Southee, 35, has claimed 385 Check wickets in 104 appearances up to now, second amongst New Zealanders behind Sir Richard Hadlee (431), and is about to convey his profession full circle, having debuted in opposition to England as a 19-year-old in Napier in March 2008.
He not too long ago performed a key function in New Zealand’s historic 3-0 collection win in India, the primary by a visiting group since 2012-13. Although he claimed simply three wickets throughout the primary two Checks, these included India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, as they had been bowled out for 46 within the collection opener, and their top-scorer, Sarfaraz Khan, for 150 to the second innings.
Southee had handed the Check captaincy over to Tom Latham previous to that collection, and has but to determine whether or not he needs to proceed his white-ball profession into New Zealand’s post-Christmas tour to Sri Lanka.
“Representing New Zealand was all I ever dreamed of rising up,” Southee stated in his retirement announcement. “To play for the Black Caps for 18 years has been the best honour and privilege, however the time feels proper to now step away from the sport that has given a lot to me.
“Check cricket holds a particular place in my coronary heart, so to have the ability to play such a giant collection in opposition to the identical opponent my Check profession started in opposition to all these years in the past, and on three grounds which are extremely particular to me, appears the proper method to finish my time within the black cap.
In a storied profession, Southee can be remembered as New Zealand’s most prolific bowler in worldwide cricket, with 770 wickets throughout codecs up to now, forward of Daniel Vettori (696). No different bowler in worldwide cricket has matched his feat of reaching 300 Check wickets, 200 ODI wickets and 100 T20I wickets.
His career-best efficiency of seven for 33 got here within the ODI format, a well-known show in opposition to England at Wellington within the 2015 World Cup, which helped to propel his facet to the primary of two consecutive appearances within the World Cup closing. And although New Zealand missed out on each events, agonisingly so in 2019, Southee was instrumental of their long-awaited slice of ICC silverware. At Southampton in June 2021, he claimed second-innings figures of 4 for 48 of their World Check Championship closing victory over India.
He can even be remembered for his unbelievable batting prowess, with a complete of 93 Check sixes up to now – second solely to Brendon McCullum amongst New Zealanders, and by a distance the best ratio of sixes for any participant with greater than 2000 Check runs to his identify. 9 of these got here in his maiden Check in 2008, when he struck 77 not out within the fourth innings, nonetheless his highest rating in Checks.
“I am going to all the time be so grateful to my household, associates, coaches, our followers and everybody concerned within the sport who has supported me and my profession over time,” he added. “It has been a tremendous journey and I would not change a factor.”
