Tim Southee and Test cricket will bid each other farewell this coming week, and whether he is selected or not—a hotly debated topic—any guard of honour will be well-deserved. Starting and ending his 16-year career with New Zealand against England is a fitting full circle, as is his domestic home, Seddon Park in Hamilton, hosting the occasion. Cricketers are more than just statistics, but for the farm boy from Waiotira on the North Island, one of four sport-loving siblings rarely found indoors, these numbers are worth noting. Southee ranks second only to Sir Richard Hadlee for Test wickets by a New Zealander, with 389 to Hadlee’s 431. In the era of men’s cricket across all three formats, his combined 774 wickets make him New Zealand’s top wicket-taker and the 10th in the world overall.
A reliable player for five captains and a skipper himself, Southee formed a dynamic partnership with Trent Boult that spanned 13 years, saw them take 541 Test wickets together, and contributed to New Zealand’s World Test Championship victory in 2021. His impact on English cricket extends beyond just individual duels or three entries on the Lord’s honours boards; his seven-wicket performance in Wellington during the 2015 World Cup sparked a revolution in English cricket. Along the way, Southee has come across as a composed player, even if a hand sanitiser dispenser was damaged after a golden duck during a T20 World Cup defeat in Tarouba. Instead, his beautiful out-swingers, subtle changes in pace, and his 6ft 4in frame, honed on the farm, have spoken volumes. His ability to hit sixes down the order—95 in Test cricket, starting with nine against England in Napier at the age of 19—has also been a valuable asset.
The final chapter of Southee’s career has become somewhat awkward to witness. Following England’s unassailable 2-0 lead, prominent voices in New Zealand are questioning whether the three-Test farewell he announced last month has been driven more by sentiment than cricketing logic. At 35, Southee’s pace has slightly diminished, and he is taking his Test wickets at an average of 61 runs apiece in 2024. Access to the new ball is one argument, with Will O’Rourke, 6ft 6in and fast, seen as the future but currently operating at first change. Another argument is the clinical way Neil Wagner was sidelined earlier this year, or how Boult’s Test career ended abruptly when he went freelance in 2022, despite his desire to continue and Kane Williamson’s support.
It’s hard not to wonder how Jimmy Anderson views this situation. On tour as England’s bowling mentor, the 42-year-old seems eager to continue playing, having made it clear earlier this year that he wasn’t ready to step aside. But witnessing a respected opponent like Southee having his role publicly questioned before his final Test might bring greater acceptance of Anderson’s own decision to retire. If Chris Woakes, Moeen Ali, and Stuart Broad’s final performance hadn’t levelled the 2023 Ashes series on the last day, a similar debate could have emerged. Anderson had taken five wickets at 85 across four Tests, and while his performance slightly improved in India, leading to his 700th Test wicket in Dharamsala, he was still used sparingly in the four Tests he played.
It was then that Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum decided it was time to say goodbye and rebuild the attack, an investment now paying off with the emergence of Gus Atkinson, who has taken 48 wickets at 22, and Brydon Carse, with 25 wickets at 17. Overall, even with a touch of sentimentality, the pair made the right decision for both the player and the team. Whatever the outcome in Hamilton—a fairytale finish like Broad, a quiet exit, or something in between—Southee’s impact is unlikely to be defined by it. The same can be said for the New Zealand team that won 3-0 in India but now appears ready for a reset. In time, that tour will overshadow the blowout against England and stand as an incredible, historic achievement. And Southee, who hit four sixes in Bangalore to kickstart the series, played a significant role.
Source link: https://www.theguardian.com
