New Zealand’s iconic fast bowler, Tim Southee, has announced that he will retire from Test cricket at the conclusion of England’s tour of New Zealand in December 2024. The 35-year-old, who has been a mainstay of New Zealand’s bowling attack for 18 years, will play his final Test match on his home ground in Hamilton, bringing his illustrious career full circle against the same opposition—England—where it all began back in 2008.
Southee, who made his Test debut as a 19-year-old against England in Napier, has since become New Zealand’s most prolific bowler in international cricket, amassing a total of 385 wickets in 104 Test matches. That tally places him second among New Zealand bowlers, behind the legendary Sir Richard Hadlee (431 wickets). However, Southee remains the country’s leader in overall international wickets with 770 across all formats—surpassing Daniel Vettori’s 696 wickets. His remarkable versatility is highlighted by his achievement of 300 Test wickets, 200 ODI wickets, and 100 T20I wickets, a feat no other bowler has matched.
Reflecting on his decision to retire, Southee expressed deep pride in his career, especially his Test cricket journey. “Representing New Zealand was all I ever dreamed of growing up,” he said in a statement. “To play for the Black Caps 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.”
Southee’s career has been defined not only by his consistency and skill with the ball but also by his surprising batting prowess. With 93 Test sixes to his name, he holds the record for the most sixes by any player with more than 2000 Test runs, second only to Brendon McCullum among New Zealand batters. His highest score of 77 not out came in his maiden Test in 2008, an innings that included nine sixes and marked the beginning of a remarkable career.
In addition to his individual feats, Southee played a pivotal role in New Zealand’s historic achievements on the international stage. He was part of the squad that reached two consecutive World Cup finals, in 2015 and 2019, and was instrumental in the country’s first-ever World Test Championship victory in 2021. His memorable second-innings figures of 4 for 48 in the WTC final against India were crucial in securing New Zealand’s victory at Southampton.
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Southee’s leadership qualities also shone through when he served as New Zealand’s Test captain until handing over the reins to Tom Latham ahead of the 2024 India series. Despite stepping down from the captaincy, he remained a vital member of the team, and his leadership and commitment were praised by New Zealand head coach Gary Stead.
“Tim’s durability and resilience have been outstanding,” said Stead. “He’s an incredibly tough competitor who gets himself up for big occasions and is rarely injured. He cares deeply about the team, its reputation, and performances, and he will be missed within the Black Caps environment.”