He didn’t quite get to 100 Test sixes but Tim Southee got the send off he was hoping for as the Black Caps created their own slice of history when beating England by 423 runs in the third and final Test of the series.
The victory in the dead rubber means New Zealand is the first nation to lose a Test by 300 or more runs in a series and then win by more than that margin in the next.
It was clear that England were already thinking of the long flight home but it was important for the Black Caps to finally deliver after their triumph in India and they did it in style, with the now retired Southee taking two wickets in the second innings to finish with 391 in total.
He was just short of an extraordinary Test sixes milestone – he finished on 98, the fourth highest in history behind England’s Ben Stokes (133), New Zealand’s Brendon McCullum (107) and Australia’s Adam Gilchrist (100).
And he was given a touching send-off by the only New Zealand player who has taken more Test wickets – Sir Richard Hadlee, the man who selected Southee for his first Test as a 19-year-old. Sir Richard took 431 Test wickets, Southee 391.
Sir Richard said: "Across all formats, Tests, ODIs and T20s, Tim has bowled 34,318 balls, a New Zealand record. There’s a fair amount of repetition in that, Tim. He has taken 776 international wickets for New Zealand, again a New Zealand record. It’s a standalone record that will never be beaten and it’s one that you can be very proud of.
“It would have been fitting if he had ended his career on the 400-Test wicket mark. In my opinion he deserved that but unfortunately it wasn’t to be.”
As he reflected on a career that spanned 107 Tests, Southee was asked about Sir Richard’s presentation.
“He’s our greatest ever Black Cap,” Southee replied. “He was there from the start. Like he said, he selected me at 19. To hear him say those kind words was very pleasing and nice to hear from such a great of the game.”
Southee said he was “at peace” with his decision and was looking forward to spending Christmas at home with his family. “They’ve been few and far between over the last I don’t know how many years,” he said.
Of the crushing victory over England, he said: “It was pretty special to win by 400-odd runs against a brilliant opposition. It’s a nice way to fade off after what’s been an incredible journey.
“I allowed myself a couple of times throughout the series to enjoy it and soak it up. It’s just been great. Three special grounds and the crowds have been incredible. It’s a nice way to finish.”
After 17 years of playing for New Zealand, Southee, 36, said: “I’ve been honoured to do it nearly 400 times [in all formats] which not many people get to do. I’ve fulfilled a childhood dream.
“Test cricket is the pinnacle for me. We’ll see what comes after this. Hopefully some T20 stuff around the world to keep me ticking over for a while yet.”
He said New Zealand’s fast bowling stocks were in good hands with Ben Sears, Jacob Duffy, Nathan Smith and Will O’Rourke in the mix.
Of them all, O’Rourke is the most promising and this recent Test was a significant one for the 23-year-old, who took four wickets in the match.
He took only one in the second innings but reached speeds of more than 150km/h in one of the most intimidating spells of fast bowling witnessed in New Zealand for years.
“I look forward to watching him take on the world,” Southee said of O’Rourke. “He’s a tremendous bowler and a great bloke with a very good head on his shoulders.”
Watch the White Ferns play Australia in three ODIs starting tomorrow on TVNZ Duke and TVNZ+
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