"Yeah, I think that's decisions that each individual board are taking into account," Southee said in Mumbai on the sidelines of the CEAT cricket rating awards about the calendar clash. "So at this stage, obviously the franchise leagues and the franchise world is growing. It would be nice to see the international [boards] and the leagues working together in some way because, especially Test cricket, I think for a lot of players is still the pinnacle of the format.

"Format-wise, I think Test cricket is still the pinnacle for me and the format I hold closest to the heart," Southee said. "I really enjoy the T20, the Hundred format keeps you young, keeps you guessing, keeps you thinking and trying to improve your game, and your skill set, which helps across the other formats."

New Zealand will now head to Asia for six Tests - one against Afghanistan in India, two against Sri Lanka and three against India - before flying back home to host England for three Tests in November-December. The current calendar clash with T20 leagues may not affect New Zealand's player availability much in the coming season, but if the trend of opting out of central contracts continues with the changing landscape of franchise T20 cricket, it may lead to bigger issues for NZC in the future.

'Ideally, I'd like to play all Tests in the coming months'

"I think it's just natural when you come to this part of the world," Southee said, "obviously spin plays a big part but ideally, I'd like to play all the Test matches available. I love Test cricket, but I understand there's balance to the side and obviously it's not easy as a pace bowler to be able to play nine Test matches in the next few months. So there's a lot of Test cricket so it's all about managing the workloads. But for me, as long as you're fit and ready to go, then I'd like to play every game.

New Zealand have picked five spin-bowling options for the first three Tests in Asia - Ajaz Patel, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Michael Bracewell and Glenn Phillips - and since most of them are allrounders, the team management will decide on the best XI for each game depending on the conditions.

"Yeah, I guess it was a conversation we (Stead and I) had in case that it becomes something that we have to look at," Southee said about the balance of the side. "I think, like I said, we've got six Test matches in the subcontinent. Balance to your side is something you talk about, but yeah, it may happen, it may not happen, but it's just something that we've talked about, that if it does happen, then we're across it. So, yeah, I'd love to play every Test match, but you look at workloads and you look at the best sides for the Test match and that's how you come up with your team.

"I think you look at picking your best side for that Test match no matter where you are in the world and so I think that's just true wherever you go. You decide to win over the five days. So we've got a lot of cricket in the subcontinent, six Test matches and then three Test matches back home."