Through the 2008–09 summer Southee competed for a place in the New Zealand team with more experienced bowlers like Iain O'Brien and Ian Butler.
Game-changing performances like the previous summer's five-wicket bags eluded him, though he played 19 matches for his country.

New Zealand's summer began with a short tour to Australia for two test matches.
Southee took a combined 5/225 in those matches, going wicketless in the second.
Australia won the series easily.
Later in the summer New Zealand returned to Australia for five ODIs and a Twenty20 match.

The first inbound tourists of the summer were the West Indies, beginning with a test series for which Southee was dropped.
He returned to Northern Districts for the first time since the previous season.
The national team picked Southee again for two Twenty20s, across which he took 2/83, and five ODIs (5/180, with two matches being drawn due to rain).

In February 2009 New Zealand visited Australia for a five-match Chappell–Hadlee Trophy ODI series and a single Twenty20.
Southee played all the one-day matches but only took three wickets, averaging 84.33.
The series was drawn 2–2 and Australia retained the Chappell–Hadlee Trophy.
The Twenty20 match, which was a 1-run win to Australia, saw Southee take 1/31.

New Zealand finished the summer hosting India for two Twenty20s, five ODIs and three tests.
With Kyle Mills injured Southee played both Twenty20 matches, taking 1/42 and 1/36.
New Zealand named a 12-man squad for the first three ODIs with Mills returning alongside Southee and fellow seam bowlers Iain O'Brien and Ian Butler.
Initially, Southee and Butler were seen as competing for a starting spot.
Butler played all three matches but Southee replaced Iain O'Brien in the third.
He was hit for 105 runs without taking a wicket and then dropped from the squad.

Southee played only in the third of the tests, ahead of Mills and Jeetan Patel.
India continued to dominate him, and his 30 overs across both innings cost 152 runs for only 3 wickets.
The match was a draw, letting India win the series 1–0.

Southee wasn't picked to play any full international cricket through the southern winter, which included the 2009 ICC Champions Trophy and 2009 ICC World Twenty20.
Through the 2008–09 summer Southee competed for a place in the New Zealand team with more experienced bowlers like Iain O'Brien and Ian Butler. Game-changing performances like the previous summer's five-wicket bags eluded him, though he played 19 matches for his country.
New Zealand's summer began with a short tour to Australia for two test matches. Southee took a combined 5/225 in those matches, going wicketless in the second. Australia won the series easily. Later in the summer New Zealand returned to Australia for five ODIs and a Twenty20 match.
The first inbound tourists of the summer were the West Indies, beginning with a test series for which Southee was dropped. He returned to Northern Districts for the first time since the previous season. The national team picked Southee again for two Twenty20s, across which he took 2/83, and five ODIs (5/180, with two matches being drawn due to rain).
In February 2009 New Zealand visited Australia for a five-match Chappell–Hadlee Trophy ODI series and a single Twenty20. Southee played all the one-day matches but only took three wickets, averaging 84.33. The series was drawn 2–2 and Australia retained the Chappell–Hadlee Trophy. The Twenty20 match, which was a 1-run win to Australia, saw Southee take 1/31.
New Zealand finished the summer hosting India for two Twenty20s, five ODIs and three tests. With Kyle Mills injured Southee played both Twenty20 matches, taking 1/42 and 1/36. New Zealand named a 12-man squad for the first three ODIs with Mills returning alongside Southee and fellow seam bowlers Iain O'Brien and Ian Butler. Initially, Southee and Butler were seen as competing for a starting spot. Butler played all three matches but Southee replaced Iain O'Brien in the third. He was hit for 105 runs without taking a wicket and then dropped from the squad.
Southee played only in the third of the tests, ahead of Mills and Jeetan Patel. India continued to dominate him, and his 30 overs across both innings cost 152 runs for only 3 wickets. The match was a draw, letting India win the series 1–0.
Southee wasn't picked to play any full international cricket through the southern winter, which included the 2009 ICC Champions Trophy and 2009 ICC World Twenty20.
Tim Southee