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New Zealand pacer Tim Southee is likely to play his last Test against England, but there's a caveat - since he could come back for selection if his team qualified for the World Test Championship (WTC) final next year. After the series against England, Southee will take a call on playing the white-ball match against Sri Lanka after Christmas. Southee is New Zealand's all-time highest wicket taker (770) across formats.
He will turn 36 by the time the series against England wraps up in Hamilton. It is also his home ground, which adds an emotional connect, suggesting that he can play his last for the national team there. "Fulfilling a childhood dream" From a farm in Northland to the world stage! Hear from Tim Southee about his decision to retire from Test cricket after the upcoming Test series against England.
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com/93tdLszJky — BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) November 15, 2024 "To play for the Black Caps 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," Southee said. "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." Southee has struggled for wickets in recent series and was largely ineffective during New Zealand's last home summer, taking six wickets in four tests.
He took three wickets in the recent tour of India, though, spinners dominated the three-test series swept by New Zealand. Also Read: Inside stories of India vs India A match before Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024 Southee was nonetheless confirmed in New Zealand's 14-man squad on Friday for the England series which starts next week in Christchurch. Selectors included two uncapped players in Otago fast bowler Jacob Duffy and seam-bowling, Wellington all-rounder Nathan Smith.
After making his international debut in the first ODI against Sri Lanka on Wednesday, Smith earned his first call-up to the test squad on the strength of an outstanding season in New Zealand's Plunket Shield. Tim Southee aims to farewell red-ball cricket on a high ???? More ???? https://t.co/HuskXcmBQd pic.
twitter.com/0eEc4ZTgc0 — ICC (@ICC) November 15, 2024 New Zealand's sweep of India revived their WTC campaign; they now lie fourth in the standings behind defending champions Australia, India and Sri Lanka. The top two teams will contest the WTC final at Lord's in June, 2025.
"It’s obviously a big series for the side in terms of the World Test Championship and to also now be farewelling someone like Tim Southee, only raises it up further,” said New Zealand selector Sam Wells. "I am sure the team and the public will want to give Tim a fitting send-off." (With Reuters inputs).
