Tim Southee to hang up his boots in Tests after England series

35-year-old Tim Southee will hang up his boots in Test cricket after the conclusion of the three-match Test series against England at home in December. Southee will play his last Test at Seddon Park, but if New Zealand do qualify for the World Test Championship (WTC) final, he will make himself available for the one-off Test. 

"Representing New Zealand was all I ever dreamed of growing up," Southee said. "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.

While Southee’s accolades in white-ball format are there for everyone to see, his red-ball numbers, too, are pretty impressive. The right-arm seamer has claimed 385 Test wickets and will finish as New Zealand’s second-highest wicket-taker in the red-ball format. 

"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."

New Zealand’s head coach, Gary Stead, too, continued his praise on Southee, hailing him for his contributions to setting up victories for the nation. 

"Tim's durability and resilience has been outstanding. He's an incredibly tough competitor who gets himself up for big occasions and is rarely injured,” Gary Stead said.  

“Tim cares deeply about the team, its reputation and performances, and he will be missed within the BlackCaps environment. He now deserves some time with his family and I'm sure he will reflect very positively in years to come about his impact and achievements in the game."

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