He made his debut in the royal format of cricket at just 20 years old. His Test journey began with a devastating innings of 77 runs off 40 balls against England in 2008, which included four boundaries and nine sixes. Sixteen years later, it was again against England that he bid farewell to Test cricket. In his last Test, he gave a vintage flashback with the bat, hitting three sixes and a four before being dismissed for 23 runs off 10 balls.
Can you guess which devastating batter this is? Let me make it easier—he took five wickets against England in the first innings of his debut Test. Yes, I am talking about Tim Southee. With his explosive start and finish with the bat, he added 389 Test wickets to his name.
The Pinnacle of Pace: Elevating the Fast-Bowling Game
The six-foot-two-inch Southee elevated pace bowling to another level. His bounce, swing, and pace have frustrated the world’s best batsmen for over a decade. At home, Southee was a nightmare for opposing batters. His 232 wickets in 59 Tests in New Zealand bear testimony to that. Across his career, which spanned 107 Tests, Southee became New Zealand’s second-highest wicket-taker. With just 42 more wickets, he would have surpassed the legendary Richard Hadlee to become New Zealand’s highest wicket-taker.
He began his Test career with a five-for and a fifty on debut against England 🔥
17 years later, Tim Southee will play his last match in the format against them ✨ https://t.co/H5x0eOmx5L #NZvENG pic.twitter.com/3OYgau9Ouq
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) November 16, 2024
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Facing Age and Challenges
But age no longer works in his favour. At 37, his body can no longer produce the sharp, fiery deliveries he was once known for. This year, he took just 15 wickets in 19 innings. Who would have thought that cricketing superpowers like England, India, Pakistan, and Australia once feared this pacer? These were Southee’s favourite opponents for many years.
The Climax: World Test Championship Glory
In the latter stages of his career, he achieved his greatest success: winning the coveted World Test Championship title by defeating India in 2021. He took four wickets in the second innings of the final. He has taken five wickets in an innings 15 times throughout his Test career. Now, after more than a decade at the top, he is saying goodbye. Tim Southee has ruled the cricket world with his sharp swing and speed. That magical ball in his hand shattered the dreams of many a batter. But time is cruel—you cannot stop it, no matter how much you want. Southee could have played on, but he knows when to bow out and when to bid farewell with grace.
🇳🇿 391 wickets
🏏 98 sixes with bat in hand
🏆 #WTC21 winnerTim Southee’s prolific Test career comes to a close 👏 pic.twitter.com/FxgCuAoKSV
— ICC (@ICC) December 17, 2024
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The End of an Era: Legends Never Truly Fade
True legends don’t view their farewell as the end but as the beginning of a new chapter. The six-foot-two-inch maestro will no longer be seen on New Zealand’s green fields, where his bounce and swing once befuddled even the world’s best batsmen. His departure marks the end of an era, and that ending has left a silent cry in the cricket world.
The Final Moment: Time Stops, But Memories Live On
Today in a dull afternoon, the Kiwi pacer seemed to say, “I’m not stopping; time has stopped me.” His shadow will remain on the cricket field, and the story of his swing will linger in the air. Farewell Tim Southee—you may have left the field, but cricket will never forget you.
