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Southee made his Test debut for New Zealand on March 22, 2008, in Napier, and in 104 matches played so far, he has 385 wickets to his name.
Tim Southee to retire from Tests after home series against England in December 2024. (Picture Credit: AP)
Star New Zealand pacer and former Test captain Tim Southee, who also holds the record for taking most wickets for the Black Caps in international cricket, will retire from Test cricket at the end of the upcoming three-match Test series against England. The 2021 World Test Championship (WTC) winners will face the Ben Stokes-led side in three Tests at home, and the last match of the series, which is scheduled to take place at Seddon Park in Hamilton from December 14-18, will be Southee’s last five-day match for the Kiwis. He will, however, make himself available for the WTC 2025 final at Lord’s in June next year if his team manages to qualify for that.
“Representing New Zealand was all I ever dreamed of growing up,” Southee said in a release issued by Black Caps. “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.”
“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.”
“I’ll always be so grateful to my family, friends, coaches, our fans, and everyone involved in the game who has supported me and my career over the years. It’s been an amazing ride, and I wouldn’t change a thing,” he added.
The 35-year-old pacer made his Test debut on March 22, 2008, against England in Napier and picked up a five-wicket haul in the first inning of his maiden Test. Southee, overall he has 385 wickets to his name in 104 matches played so far, which makes him New Zealand’s second leading wicket-taker in Tests, and he would like to finish his career with at least 400 wickets.
Apart from making life difficult for so many batters around the world in the last 16 years, Southee has scored 2185 runs, and his best score is 77 not out, which he hammered from just 40 balls in the second inning of his maiden Test match.
During his stay at the crease in that match, Southee smacked five fours and nine sixes but failed to help Daniel Vettori & Co. avoid defeat. With 93 sixes to his name, he is the second-leading six-hitter for New Zealand in Tests and overall sixth in the world.
According to a release by the Black Caps, following the England series, Southee will make a decision on whether he has one final white-ball swansong against Sri Lanka after Christmas.
