Southee bids farewell to international cricket after glorious career

Tim Southee wrapped up his legendary international cricket career with a standout performance in his final Test match, taking two wickets in New Zealand’s commanding 423-run victory over England in Hamilton.

The 36-year-old swing bowler, playing in his 107th Test, ended his career with a display of the skill and precision that has made him one of the finest fast bowlers in the history of the game.

Southee’s remarkable career spanned 17 years, during which he became a fixture in New Zealand cricket across all three formats. His 391 Test wickets place him second only to Richard Hadlee in the nation's history. With a total of 776 international wickets, Southee holds the record for the most wickets taken by any New Zealand player, surpassing all others in both Tests, One-Day Internationals, and Twenty20s.

Southee's global achievements are unparalleled: he is the only player in the world to have taken over 300 wickets in Tests, 200 in ODIs (221), and 100 in T20 Internationals (164), the latter a record for the most T20 wickets by any player.

Though he is stepping away from international cricket, Southee plans to continue his playing career in professional T20 leagues. His decision to retire with a final Test at Seddon Park, his home ground, provided a fitting and emotional conclusion to a stellar career that has left an indelible mark on New Zealand cricket.