Richard Hadlee brands Boult, Southee Kiwis' 'best ever new-ball combination'

New Zealand fast bowling duo of Trent Boult and Tim Southee has been branded as the nation's 'best ever new-ball combination' by legendary all-rounder Sir Richard Hadlee, ahead of Saturday's high octane World Cup clash with Australia.

Hadlee, who once held the Test wicket-taking world record and is acknowledged as one of the game's finest exponents of pace bowling, lauded Boult and Southee.

Hadlee often had to rely on his own skills during his long stint in the international game and he feels that the current New Zealand side is blessed by the dual attacking qualities of Boult and Southee, Stuff.co.nz reported.

Hadlee said that he believes particularly with Southee and Boult, it's their best ever new-ball combination in New Zealand's history.

The former all-rounder claimed that the way those two bowlers complement each other, with the left and right arm and their various swing skills, they're wicket-taking bowlers, insisting that Boult and Southee have proved that successfully, particularly over the last 12 months.

Hadlee said that it's fair to say that the duo has come of age, claiming that they are at the top of their game at the moment. And he said that both, Boult and Southee are young, insisting that they're going to be around a long time, pointing out that that's good for New Zealand, because one has got to bowl sides out in all forms of the game, and that's what they're doing.

Southee enters Saturday's clash fresh off a remarkable 7-33 against England. Boult has made rapid gains with the white ball, doing enough to earn a massive IPL contract, the report added.