Veteran New Zealand cricketer Tim Southee has announced his retirement from international cricket after the three-match test series against England, which begins on November 28 in Christchurch.
Southee, who turns 36 this month, may still play in the Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka after Christmas and has left the door open for a potential appearance in next year’s World Test Championship final, should New Zealand qualify.
Over his career, Southee has played 391 matches and taken 770 international wickets, placing him 10th on the all-time list.
Southee debuted for the Black Caps in 2008 as an 18-year-old and has become one of New Zealand’s cricketing legends. His test record includes 385 wickets, second only to Sir Richard Hadlee for New Zealand. In limited-overs cricket, he has taken 221 wickets in ODIs and 164 in T20s. He also played in four ODI World Cups and seven T20 World Cups and was part of the squad that won the inaugural World Test Championship in 2021.
Reflecting on his career, Southee described playing for New Zealand as a childhood dream. “As long as I remember, all I’ve wanted to do was play for this team,” he said. While admitting it was an emotional decision, he expressed hope to enjoy his final month with the squad.
Southee’s recent form in red-ball cricket has dipped, with fewer wickets over the past 18 months, and he relinquished the test captaincy in September. New Zealand has already named two uncapped seamers, Jacob Duffy and Nathan Smith, in the squad for the England series, signalling a shift toward new talent.
Southee hopes for a strong finish to his career but acknowledges the uncertainty of what the coming matches may bring.
