New Zealand’s Tim Southee gestures to the gang as he leaves the sphere in his remaining Check after victory towards England at Seddon Park in Hamilton, New Zealand, on December 17, 2024. —AFP
HAMILTON: Tim Southee stated he would always remember his “incredible journey” after the New Zealand nice confirmed Tuesday he had retired totally from worldwide cricket.
Southee stated he would “fade out” a cheerful man after taking two wickets in his 107th and remaining Check, a 423-run drubbing of England in Hamilton.
The 36-year-old swing bowler then revealed he would additionally play no extra limited-overs matches for his nation, ending a record-breaking 17 years throughout all three codecs.
“It’s time for these young guys,” Southee stated.
“We’ve seen a number of them come through in the last couple of years and I’m excited to sit back and watch them continue to take this team forward.
“I’ve lived it for thus lengthy. So yeah, I’ll be carried out.”
Southee’s 391 wickets is second only to Richard Hadlee in the New Zealand Test cricket history books.
But Southee stands alone for total New Zealand international wickets, with 776 since his debut in 2008.
He is the only player globally to take more than 300 wickets in Tests, 200 in one-day internationals (221) and 100 in Twenty20 internationals (164), with the T20 figure the most by any player.
Southee said he would pursue playing opportunities in professional T20 leagues but had decided a Test at his home ground of Seddon Park was the best way to sign off for New Zealand.
“Check cricket’s the head for me and it’s fairly particular to win by 400-odd runs towards a superb opposition,” he said.
“It’s a pleasant strategy to fade out after what’s been an unbelievable journey.
“Every opportunity to play for New Zealand has been a special moment. It’s been a great ride and I’ve got 17 years of memories which I’ll take with me.”
Southee stated he would bear in mind with specific fondness a “golden period” for New Zealand by which he shared the brand new ball with Trent Boult, supported by aggressive first-change exponent Neil Wagner.
The three seamers have been a deadly mixed power for a decade, culminating in successful the World Check Championship remaining towards India at Lord’s in 2021.
“To be a part of that was pretty special,” Southee stated.
“And to play alongside those two and form a pretty good friendship which will go long beyond the game as well, is, I guess, the most satisfying part of all.”
Southee stated he received’t although miss the draining schedule of worldwide cricket.
“I’ll certainly enjoy a Christmas at home with the family,” he stated.
“They’ve been few and far between over the last how many years.”
