Southee retires: New Zealand’s second-best wicket-taker and six-hitting pioneer
Tim Southee's ability to combine new-ball brilliance with destructive lower-order hitting has made him one of New Zealand's most iconic cricketers.
Tim Southee brought the curtain down on his illustrious Test career with a final flourish, hitting more sixes (three) than taking wickets (two) in New Zealand's emphatic victory over England in Hamilton on 17 December 2024.
As he steps away, Southee leaves behind a remarkable legacy defined by his consistency, record-breaking performances, and ability to deliver in both bowling and batting.
Here's a closer look at the numbers that define his Test career:
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
391 wickets – Southee retires as New Zealand's second-highest wicket-taker in Tests. Only the legendary Sir Richard Hadlee, with 431 wickets, sits ahead of him.
15 five-wicket hauls – Among New Zealand bowlers, Southee's 15 five-wicket hauls place him third, behind Hadlee (36) and Daniel Vettori (20).
234 wickets at home – Southee's dominance in home conditions is unmatched. He took 234 wickets in New Zealand, more than any other bowler. Hadlee is the only other New Zealander to reach 200 Test wickets on home soil, finishing with 201.
47 Test wins – No player has won more Tests for New Zealand than Southee, who featured in 47 victories. He edges out Ross Taylor, Tom Latham, and Kane Williamson, all of whom have 44 wins.
107 Test appearances – Southee's 107 Tests make him the fourth-most capped player for New Zealand. Only Vettori (112), Taylor (112), and Stephen Fleming (111) have played more matches.
Consistency across a golden decade – Between August 2012 and November 2021, Southee claimed 280 wickets in 63 Tests at an average of 25.45, with a strike rate of 53.3. During this period, only India's R Ashwin (388 wickets at 23.69) took more wickets with an average below 26 and a strike rate under 55.
98 sixes – Southee carved out a unique legacy with the bat as well, tying for fourth on the all-time list of most Test sixes. He shares the spot with Chris Gayle, behind Ben Stokes (133), Brendon McCullum (107), and Adam Gilchrist (100). Notably, Southee hit all of his sixes batting at No. 8 or lower, the most by any player in that position.
On his Test debut against England in Napier in 2008, Southee smashed nine sixes, still the most by any batter in their maiden Test.
82.68 strike rate – Southee's explosive batting style is highlighted by his strike rate of 82.68, the third-highest for any batter with 2000-plus runs (where balls-faced data is available). Only Harry Brook (88.37) and Ben Duckett (85.88) have a higher strike rate.
Fastest debut fifty – In his first Test, Southee struck a half-century off just 29 balls, the fastest fifty ever recorded on debut. He surpassed Desmond Haynes' mark of 38 balls and remains unmatched to this day.
