Tim Southee retires: New Zealand bowler to retire from Tests after England series
Former New Zealand captain Tim Southee has announced that he will retire from Test cricket later this year.
Southee, 35, will end his Test career after a three-match series against England in November and December unless the Black Caps qualify for next year’s World Test Championship final.
Southee’s final Test will be played at his home ground at Seddon Park in Hamilton from December 13 to 18.
“Representing New Zealand has been a dream of mine since I was little,” Southee said.
“It has been the greatest honor and privilege to play for the Blackcaps for 18 years, but now it is time to step away from the game that has given me so much.
“It’s been an amazing journey and I wouldn’t change a thing.”
Southee won the 2021 inaugural World Test Championship final with New Zealand.
He succeeds Kane Williamson as Test captain in December 2022 and stepped down from the role currently held by Tom Latham last month.
The fast bowler has played 102 Test matches, taking 385 wickets at an average of 29.87, second only to Richard Hadley (431) in Test wickets by a New Zealand bowler ).
He is also the only player to have played more than 300 Tests, 200 One-Day Internationals and 100 Twenty20 International wickets.
“Tim’s durability and toughness are outstanding,” Blackcaps head coach Gary Stead said.
“He is a very tenacious competitor who holds his own in big situations and rarely gets injured.
“Tim cared deeply about the team, its reputation and performance and we will miss him in the Black Caps environment.”
New Zealand will face Sri Lanka in the white-ball series after the Test series in England ends next month. Southey has yet to decide whether he will play in those games.
Southee will continue to play domestic and franchise cricket after his Test retirement.
The Black Caps have also named uncapped Nathan Smith and Jacob Duffy in their squad for the series against England.
This is the first call-up for Smith, a 26-year-old all-rounder who made his debut in a one-day international against Sri Lanka in November.
Kane Williamson returns to the lineup after missing India’s series win with a groin injury, while left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner will join the squad for the second and third Tests.
New Zealand’s line-up against England: Tom Latham (c), Tom Blundell (wk), Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner (2nd and 3rd Tests), Nathan Smith , Tim Southee, Kane Williamson, Will Young.
