'Southee could become world's best swing bowler' - Donald

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Tim Southee has had an impressive World Cup so far © Associated Press Enlarge

Tim Southee could become the best swing bowler in the world, , New Zealand's bowling coach, has said. Southee has been the best among New Zealand's bowlers this World Cup, picking up 15 wickets in seven games at an average of 17.

"When I sat in my hotel room in Christchurch when I first arrived in New Zealand to start my job, I sat there for about three days and watched Tim operate against Pakistan [in the second Test at the Basin Reserve]," Donald told Sunday News. "I know the wicket was very flat but I just liked straight away what he offered.

"The first thing I said to him when I met him was - `I want you to take the responsibility of leading this attack. As young as you are, I want you to take that responsibility because you could become the best swing bowler in world cricket in the next year or so'.

"`I want you to believe that but also it's what you do on the field and off the field that will determine the respect you get'."

There is room for improvement, Donald said. "He's engaged in a lot more conversation now in terms of saying this needs to be serious. He's got some white-line fever about him and I think he wants it. He really wants it and I think people want him to want it even more.

"That's really all I've done. I haven't changed his style of bowling, although I think we can improve that. I think he can add the inswinger to right-handers and that's something I need to bring to his game to add some variety."

Donald joined the New Zealand support staff on a short-term contract but he is engaged in talks with New Zealand Cricket CEO Justin Vaughan about his future. "The World Cup needs to be done and dusted first before we start talking about whether I'm going to stay on," he said. "John Wright [the New Zealand coach] wants to go home and he wants to express his vision to New Zealand Cricket and we'll take it from there."

New Zealand take on Sri Lanka in the first semi-final of the World Cup in Colombo on March 29.