Tim Southee: New Zealand seamer to retire from Test cricket after England series

Tim Southee: New Zealand seamer to retire from Test cricket after England series

New Zealand's seamer Tim Southee has announced he is to retire from Test cricket at the end of the upcoming three-match series against England.

Southee has played 104 Tests for the Black Caps, taking 385 wickets, placing him second all-time among New Zealand bowlers, behind only Sir Richard Hadlee (431).

Set to turn 36 on December 11, in between the second and third Tests against England, Southee has enjoyed a superb 17-year international career after making his debut, also against England, in early 2008.

New Zealand's three-Test series against England starts on November 28 in Christchurch, with Southee's final Test coming at his home ground of Seddon Park in Hamilton.

"Representing New Zealand was all I ever dreamed of growing up," Southee said in a statement.

"To play for the Black Caps for 18 years has been the greatest honour and privilege, but the time feels right to now step away from the game that has given so much to me.

"Test cricket holds a special place in my heart, so to be able to play such a big series against the same opponent my Test career began against all those years ago, and on three grounds that are incredibly special to me, seems the perfect way to end my time in the black cap.

"It's been an amazing ride and I wouldn't change a thing."

Southee was part of the Black Caps squad that won the inaugural World Test Championship final in 2021, while he has also played in four ODI World Cups and seven T20 World Cups for his country.

Southee captained New Zealand 14 times in Test cricket, taking on the role full-time from 2022 until September after suffering a 2-0 series defeat in Sri Lanka. He also led the side once in ODIs and 29 times in T20 cricket.

He is yet to decide whether he will also enjoy a white-ball swansong in the series against Sri Lanka after Christmas, but is available for selection for one final Test appearance should New Zealand qualify for next year's World Test Championship final.

Southee has also stated his intention to continue playing domestic and franchise cricket.

Spinner Ajaz Patel, whose 11 wickets in the third Test against India this month helped New Zealand to an unprecedented clean sweep of that series, has been omitted from the Black Caps squad to face England.

Patel had match figures of 11-160 as New Zealand won the third test by 25 runs to become the first team to sweep India in a three-match Test series at home.

The selectors have found no place for him in a 14-man squad named on Friday for the series against England.

Mitchell Santner, who took 13-157 in the second Test against India, is the only frontline spinner in the squad, though he will play in the second and third Tests only.

"Mitch has performed superbly since his recall to the Test team last year and I am sure he will take a lot of confidence out of his match-winning performance in the Pune Test," selector Sam Wells said.

Wells said it was difficult to leave out Patel but Santner had been preferred for his recent form and all-round ability, while Glenn Phillips provides another spin option.

Patel has often been overlooked for Test series in New Zealand conditions. After taking 10-119 in an innings against India in 2021 he also was left out of the following home series against Bangladesh.

Kane Williamson, who missed the India series with a groin injury, returns but Tom Latham retains the captaincy and uncapped all-rounder Nathan Harris has been called in.

New Zealand squad: Tom Latham (captain), Tom Blundell, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Will O'Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Tim Southee, Kane Williamson, Will Young.

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