Tim Southee is ready to bid an emotional farewell to Test cricket, as the fast bowler takes the field for New Zealand in white for the final time in the third and final Test of the home series against England at Seddon Park, Hamilton, on Saturday (December 14).
Emotional scenes were on full display before the start of the Hamilton Test, as the legendary Kiwi player took his family to the ground for his farewell Test match against England.
Tim Southee leads the New Zealand team with his daughter in the farewell Test
Interestingly, Southie made his Test debut against England in 2008, and now faces the Three Lions again in his final appearance in the traditional format of the game.
Also Read: Jos Atkinson becomes the second cricketer in history to achieve this huge feat
Tim Southee took his young daughter to the field as the New Zealander stepped out for his final Test at his home – Seddon Park. Southee led the New Zealand cricket team onto the field as his daughter joined him for the national anthem in Hamilton on Saturday.
A moment to cherish forever 🫶#Tim Southey He steps out for his final test with his daughter as Seddon Park applauds the Kiwi player 👏👨👧#Sony Sports Network #NZvENG #Thanks_Tim pic.twitter.com/fYDgHQm4Ls
– Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) December 14, 2024
Tim Southee receives a guard of honor from England players at Seddon Park
Meanwhile, Tim Southee also received a guard of honor from the England cricket team as he walked out to bat, and the gesture received thunderous applause from the Seddon Park crowd, bringing down the curtain on his illustrious 16-year career.
Southee had the respect of all the England players when he came to bat after the fall of New Zealand's eighth wicket in Hamilton. All the English players applauded the retired New Zealand icon.
Well, the farewell celebrations reached a climax when Southee took to the field, with the Seddon Park crowd standing and applauding as the England players formed a guard of honor for the icon.
Tim Southee's Guard of Honor! #NZvsENG pic.twitter.com/RlHkN3q170
– Dialectical Guy (@dialecticalguy) December 14, 2024
The right-hander scored 23 runs off just 10 balls before being bowled out to Jos Atkinson in Hamilton. The 36-year-old seamer hit a boundary and three sixes during his quick knock in the ongoing third and final Test against England.
Tim Southee equals Chris Gayle's Test record at Hamilton
After hitting a maximum of three in Hamilton, Tim Southee achieved the milestone of equaling Chris Gayle's record of six hits in Test cricket. Both Southee and Gayle now have 98 sixes to their name in Test cricket.
The famous list is topped by Australian legend Adam Gilchrist (100), New Zealander Brendon McCullum (107), and current England Test captain Ben Stokes (133).
Well, Southee's Test career has been remarkable, as he has already taken 389 wickets in 106 matches at an average of 30.21, including 15 five-wicket hauls, and he will certainly add to his tally in his farewell Test match against England at Seddon Park.
The retired player is New Zealand's second-highest Test wicket-taker, trailing only Sir Richard Hadlee, who took 431 wickets. In all three forms of the game, Southie was the leader of New Zealand's bowling attack, taking 774 international wickets – the highest by any Black Caps player.
However, Southey's form has declined in recent months. In 2024, the star has taken 15 wickets in 10 matches, at an average of 61.66, in the longest format of the game. Since March 2023, no Kiwi bowler has taken more than two wickets in an innings.
