Image: After New Zealand's win, Tim Southee announced his retirement from the format / © Cricket Addictor
Tim Southee made a significant impact in his debut Test against England in 2008, taking 5 wickets for 55 runs and scoring 77 off 40 balls, including nine sixes. Over the years, he became a key bowler for New Zealand. In his final match, he picked up two wickets, finishing with a remarkable career total of 391 Test wickets.
Tim Southee is New Zealand’s Second-highest wicket-taker of all time with 431 wickets, just behind Sir Richard Hadlee. He also scored 98 sixes in his career, tying Chris Gayle’s record, and contributed seven half-centuries, including a highest score of an unbeaten 77. After the match, Sir Hadlee led the farewell ceremony, reflecting on his role in Southee’s debut selection. He said:
Tim is a true champion, a great New Zealand cricketer and sports person. Tim’s skill set was admirable. The classical outswinger, the scrambled seam off-cutter are the features of Tim’s successes.
Although the hosts won the final Test, they lost the series 2-1 to England. Despite the defeat, the special moment was Tim Southee’s farewell, celebrated by his teammates, fans, and legendary Sir Richard Hadlee. It marked the end of a memorable 17-year-old Test career for Southee.