Tim Southee has announced his retirement from Test cricket. The upcoming three-match series against England in December will be his last. In fact, he is set to bid adieu to the longest format at his home ground which is Seddon Park in Hamilton. If New Zealand qualify for the World Test Championship (WTC) final, Southee will make himself available for that one-off game.
The 35-year-old seamer has been playing international cricket for 16 years now. He is one of only four players (and the only fast bowler) to feature in 100 matches in each of the three formats.
Southee is currently the second-highest wicket-taker for New Zealand in Test cricket. His tally stands at 385 wickets in 104 Test matches. He has an average of 29.88 and has taken 15 five-wicket hauls. With the bat, he has got 2185 runs and has seven fifties to his name. He has smashed 93 sixes which is the sixth-most in the history of Test cricket.
The Whangarei-born pacer shot into the limelight in the 2008 Under-19 World Cup where he finished as the second-highest wicket-taker with 17 wickets in just five games. He averaged 6.64 and was named the player of the tournament.
His Test debut was soon after that Under-19 World Cup. It was against England and he picked up a five-wicket haul in his maiden outing with the ball. Since then, he has been one of the prominent members of the New Zealand side across all three formats. Southee has led the New Zealand pace attack for the last decade and a half.
Southee revealed that playing for New Zealand was all he dreamt of. He admitted that it has been a privilege to and honour to represent the Blackcaps.
“Representing New Zealand was all I ever dreamed of growing up. To play for the BlackCaps for 18 years has been the greatest honour and privilege, but the time feels right to now step away from the game that has given so much to me,” Tim Southee was quoted saying in a statement.
Southee speaks highly about Test cricket
The 35-year-old spoke highly about Test cricket and how it holds a special place in his heart. Southee will finish his Test career against the same team that he began against i.e. England.
“Test cricket holds a special place in my heart, so to be able to play such a big series against the same opponent my Test career began against all those years ago, and on three grounds that are incredibly special to me, seems the perfect way to end my time in the black cap,” Southee added.
His future in white-ball cricket is still uncertain. He lasted played an ODI back in the 2023 World Cup while his last T20I came in the T20 World Cup 2024 earlier this year.
However, Southee is available to play domestic and franchise cricket. He is at the top of the wicket charts in T20I cricket history – 164 wickets in 126 matches. In ODIs, he is third on the list of most wickets for New Zealand with 221 scalps in 161 games.
