I started watching cricket regularly in 2009, and I saw this bowler playing for New Zealand. It was childhood back then, and whenever he dismissed batsmen with his slower deliveries, it made me angry. I couldn’t understand why our batsmen couldn’t handle such slow balls. But as I grew older, I realized it wasn’t the fault of our batsmen; the bowler himself was in a class of his own.
Yes, I’m talking about the 35-year-old Kiwi cricketer Tim Southee, who announced his retirement from international cricket yesterday. He stated that the upcoming Test series against England would be his final Test series, and he plans to retire after New Zealand’s home summer. However, Southee mentioned that if New Zealand qualifies for the ICC Test Championship Final, he would definitely participate in it.
Having played 391 international matches, Tim Southee has taken 750 international wickets. He holds the unique record of playing over 100 matches in all three formats and taking over 100 wickets in each format. Truly, he is a legend of New Zealand cricket.
One of his most remarkable traits was his humble and grounded personality. Despite being a fast bowler with such a staggering number of wickets, I never saw Southee displaying unnecessary aggression. He would just bow his head, perform, and focus on his work. This quality will always be remembered.
On the other hand, India defeated South Africa by 135 runs in the fourth T20 international, clinching the series 3-1 on South African soil. Well done, India!