bet168 Tim Southee Retires From Tests: A Look At The Career Of One Of New Zealand's Greatest

Updated:2024-12-19 01:53 Views:80

Photo: AP/Andrew Cornaga Photo: AP/Andrew Cornaga

Tim Southeebet168, one of New Zealand's greatest cricketers ever, ended his Test career on a winning note as the Kiwis demolished England by 423 runs in the last Test of the three-match series. (More Cricket News)

He took only two wickets in his last Test match but showed why he was among the most valuable players in New Zealand cricketing history. In the first innings of the Test, the 36-year-old tonked three sixes in a 10-ball blitz where he added 23 runs to the team's total. This was Southee's legacy. Even on days where he had middling returns with the ball, he could add valuable runs down the order and sometimes even turn the match.

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Right from a young age, Southee was always expected to achieve big things.He played the 2006 and the 2008 U-19 World Cup and in the second he was also the Player of the Tournament. Kane Williamson, Trent Boult and India's Virat Kohli were all part of the same batch.

Within months of his U-19 World Cup exploits, Southee was handed his Test cap against England in Napier. He became one of the youngest debutants in New Zealand's cricketing history.

Even at 19, Southee showed he was ready for the senior level with a brilliant fifer in his debut innings. And if that was not enough, Southee hit a fantastic 40-ball 77 in the second innings, smashing nine sixes. His half-century that came off just 29 balls remained the fastest Test fifty by a Kiwi for the next decade.

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Southee made a statement in his debut Test outing and soon the world would know him for his trademark outswingers and the ability to hit sixes.

After proving himself in home conditions, Southee showed his skills outside New Zealand too. He has a brilliant record in India and Sri Lanka, two countries considered to be a tough place for overseas pacers.

After being a primarily outswing bowler for a long time, Southee, late in his Test career, also developed a wobble seam delivery which jagged back in sharply after pitching. The delivery made him even more lethal and in the last half of his career, Southee emerge as one of the most threatening bowlers in the world.

Nine of Southee's 15 five-wicket hauls in Test cricket came after 2018. He was easily the best Kiwi bowler since 2018. Southee picked up 191 wickets in last six years of his career, the sixth most for a fast bowler in the same period.

He finishes his Test career with 391 Test wickets, the second most for New Zealand after the great Richard Headley. Apart from his bowling exploits, Southee was also a serial six hitter. In fact, in the history of Test cricket, only Ben Stokes, Brendon McCullum and Adam Gilchrist have hit more sixes than Southee's 98. His 2245 Test runs are third best for a player with no centuries.

Southee also captained New Zealand in 14 Test matches. The high points of his Test career were the World Test Championship triumph in 2021. He wasalso a part of the Test squad that whitewashed India in India earlier this year to achieve one of the most remarkable results in the history of the format.

India who entered the match as slight favourites, started on a high note. India dominated possession and kept threatening the Argentinian defence. However, led by goalkeeper Tomas Santiago, Argentina refused to give into the Indian attacks. India failed to convert a few penalty corners and one Abhishek shot hit the crossbar.

"The first match in the Olympics is never easy. New Zealand is not an easy team, We made some mistakes, but there were a few good things as well. It's a good wake-up call for the team," Sreejesh said.

Southee's legacy will remain etched as the greatest Kiwi bowler since Richard Headley and an out and out entertainer with the bat.