Senior pacer Tim Southee believes New Zealand will bounce back in the upcoming home assignments versus India after a disappointing tour of Australia.

India’s tour of New Zealand begins with the first of the five T20Is, starting Friday in Auckland.

“We had a big chunk of Test cricket… The guys in Australia were reasonably experienced. They’ve had tough tours before and just like it happened in the past, I’m sure we’ll bounce back.

“And for a long period of time, they’ve been able to get through those ups and downs. It’s about making the adjustment. What has gone is gone and as I said, it was very disappointing, but the guys have learnt from it.

“We’re going to look forward to the Indian series and a big way to finish the home summer,” Southee was quoted as saying by a cricket-specific website.

Southee was one of the four players to play in all 12 of New Zealand’s T20Is last year and led the side in nine of them, with regular skipper Kane Williamson rested for one at the start of the year.

Williamson got injured when the Black Caps toured Sri Lanka and hosted England. He is set to make his first international appearance in the shortest format since last (New Zealand) summer on Friday, and Southee says he will offer the captain whatever support he needs.

“I enjoy thinking about the game and it makes you think outside of what you’re doing,” Southee said of his experience as captain.

“I also try to help Kane out. It’s nice to have those senior guys helping you and Ross (Taylor) was also good having captained the side in the past.

“It’s a different challenge when you captain and it’s something I enjoyed. But Kane’s doing a great job, so I’ll just try to help him out.”

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Southee also reckoned that variations could prove handy on the easy-paced, hit-through-the line tracks in New Zealand.

The New Zealand attack for the five-match series may not have enough T20I experience, but they can fall back on the likes of Hamish Bennett and Blair Tickner — seamers who excelled in the Super Smash in the past few years.

Bennett is now set to make his T20I debut on Friday, having bowled Wellington Firebirds to the domestic T20 title last week. Once a tearaway quick, Bennett now has a proper off-break and can also bowl the knuckle ball.

Tickner, on the other hand, can hit hard lengths at speeds in excess of 140kmph.

“Yeah, it’s about variations,” Southee said. “I guess you need to stay a step ahead especially on our grounds here, which are small with pretty good surfaces.

“It’s a great challenge for us bowlers, but we’re having a good hit out.”