On the Cusp of Retirement, Southee Reflects on a Remarkable Test Career
As veteran New Zealand pacer Tim Southee prepares to bid farewell to Test cricket, the 34-year-old cricketer opened up about his decision, describing it as the “right” time to call it quits after a glorious 17-year international career.
Southee, who made his Test debut against England in Napier back in 2008, revealed that he had contemplated retirement during the recent tour of India, consulting with coach Gary Stead. However, he ultimately decided that the upcoming “marquee” home series against England would be the perfect stage to bring down the curtain on his illustrious Test journey.
“I guess you look at what’s in front of you and last year was that World Cup and we had the T20 World Cup earlier this year,” Southee told reporters. “We had this chunk of Test cricket, which I guess was all exciting along the last 12 months, and you near the end of that exciting part and you look forward and it’s a marquee series against a great opposition (England), one obviously which I started against all those years ago, and it feels right.”
Reflecting on his memorable Test debut, the right-arm pacer fondly recalled the experience of walking into the dressing room alongside seasoned veterans like Daniel Vettori, Stephen Fleming, and Brendon McCullum. “It was just a dream start,” he said. “I think just walking in that changing room, you see the likes of Vettori, Fleming, McCullum as a 19-year-old kid. That was just a special week.”
Southee’s final three Test matches will take place in Christchurch, Wellington, and his hometown of Hamilton, adding an emotional touch to his farewell. “Hamilton’s now home so it’s nice that [I’ll be] able to walk off there and drive home – probably not drive home – but just to be able to finish in front of friends and family,” he said.
The veteran also looked back on New Zealand’s rise as a cricketing powerhouse in the last decade, crediting the consistency of the core group and the emergence of talented players for their success, including the historic World Test Championship triumph in 2021.
As Southee prepares to hang up his boots, he expressed his fondness for the “day one energy” and the feeling of representing his country in the whites, which he will miss the most about Test cricket. “There’s a lot you’ll miss. But it’s like everything has to come to you at some stage. And I’ve been very lucky to so far play 104 of them, so hopefully a couple more,” he said.
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