New Zealand’s veteran fast bowler Tim Southee has announced that he will retire from Test cricket following the upcoming three-match series against England. The 35-year-old pacer, who has been a stalwart in New Zealand’s bowling attack for over a decade, indicated that this series would be his last in the longest format unless the BlackCaps qualify for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final scheduled for June next year.
Southee also revealed he would evaluate his future in white-ball cricket after the England series, including the possibility of playing in a final ODI series against Sri Lanka later this year.
A Remarkable Career
Currently New Zealand’s leading wicket-taker across formats with 770 international scalps, Southee is the only bowler to have surpassed the milestones of 300 Test wickets, 200 ODI wickets, and 100 T20I wickets. Over the course of 104 Tests, the seamer has claimed 385 wickets at an average of 29.88.
Recently, he played a crucial role in New Zealand’s historic 3-0 series win against India. Ahead of that series, Southee had stepped down as New Zealand’s Test captain, handing over leadership duties to Tom Latham.
Southee’s illustrious Test career has been filled with memorable moments, and his mastery of swing and seam bowling has been on full display during some iconic spells. Here are five of his finest performances in Test cricket.
Top Five Test Spells by Tim Southee
- 7/64 vs India, Bengaluru (2012)
Southee produced one of the greatest spells by a visiting bowler on Indian soil during New Zealand’s tour of India in 2012. In Bengaluru, he dismantled a formidable Indian batting lineup, dismissing key players like Gautam Gambhir, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, and MS Dhoni. Despite his incredible efforts, New Zealand’s batting faltered, and they couldn’t capitalize on his heroics.
- 6/68 vs Sri Lanka, Wellington (2018)
In seam-friendly conditions in Wellington, Southee’s precision proved devastating for the Sri Lankan batters. His six-wicket haul included the dismissals of experienced players like Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal. However, Sri Lanka’s spirited batting in the second innings denied New Zealand a victory in this hard-fought contest.
- 6/43 vs England, Lord’s (2021)
Southee’s name was etched on the Lord’s honours board for the second time after a sublime spell of swing bowling in the first Test of New Zealand’s 2021 England tour. His figures of 6/43 restricted England to 275 in their first innings, demonstrating his exceptional skill with the moving ball. This performance laid the foundation for New Zealand’s eventual series win.
- 5/69 vs India, Kanpur (2021)
On a turning track that heavily favoured spinners, Southee defied the odds to deliver a masterful performance. His dismissals included Cheteshwar Pujara, Shreyas Iyer, and Ravindra Jadeja, showcasing his ability to adapt to challenging conditions. The game ended in a thrilling draw as Ajaz Patel and Rachin Ravindra batted out the final moments to save the match for New Zealand.
- 5/35 vs South Africa, Christchurch (2022)
In Christchurch, Southee delivered a clinical performance to dismantle South Africa’s batting order. His five-wicket haul in the second innings included crucial dismissals of Aiden Markram and Kyle Verreynne. New Zealand bowled the Proteas out for just 111, securing a commanding victory by an innings and 276 runs.
A Legacy of Excellence
Tim Southee’s retirement will mark the end of an era for New Zealand cricket. Known for his ability to extract movement off the pitch and his knack for performing under pressure, Southee has left an indelible mark on the sport. Whether or not he continues in white-ball cricket, his contributions to New Zealand cricket will be celebrated for years to come.
