Tim Southee retired from international cricket after New Zealand’s crushing 423-run victory against England in the third and final Test at Hamilton in December 2024. He will go down as one of the leading pacers of his generation. (More Cricket News)
The Kiwi was the highest wicket-taker for his country in international cricket with a total of 776 wickets in 394 matches. Southee played a big part in New Zꦇealand’s great run in Test cricket from 2017 till 2021, which eventually culminated in their historic triumph in the inaugural WTC final at Southampton.
We look at 10 numbers w🎉hich his international career.
391 – Second-highest number of Test wickets for NZ
Southee bagged 391 wickets in🎃 107 Tests at an average of 30.26 and strike rate of 60. Only Richard Hadlee, with 431 dismissals in 86 matches has a higher tally for New Zealand. Daniel♏ Vettori, Trent Boult and Neil Wagner complete the top 5. Southee took 15 fifers and one 10-wicket haul during his Test career.
8 – Number of years Southee had a bowling average of under 30
Southee’s Test career took off from the Bengaluru Test in India in August, 2012 when he bagged seven wickets in the first innings. Since then, he bagged 346 wickets in 89 matches at an average of 28.47 and strike rate of 57.9, and was at number 4 on the list of dismissals by pacers after James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Mitchell Starc. Southee had a bowling average of less thaꦕn 30 in as many as 8 calendar years thereafter – 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023. His average was below 25 in five calendar years – 2012, 2013, 2018, 2020, 2021.
234 – Highest number of wickets in New Zealand
Southee returned with 234 wickets in 59 Tests at home at an average of 28.79 and strike rate of 57.1 and is the leading wicket-taker in New Zealand. Hadlee is at numb♛er 2 with 201 dismissals. Southee’s highest impact performance came against India at the Basin Reserve in 2020, when he returned with 9-110 in a big 10-wicket win for New Zealand.
47 – Most wins in Test cricket for a New Zealand player
Southee was part of 47 Test victories for New Zealand – the most for any player from the natio♓n. He is followed by Ross Taylor, Tom Latham and Kane Williamson who had 44 w🌜ins each.
2018-2021 – Southee’s golden period in Test cricket
Southee was at his peak in the four-year period between 2018 and 2021 during which he bagged 114 wickets in just 23 matches at an average of 22.25 and strike rate of 48.6. No bowler had picked mo🐎re fifers than Southee’s 7 in this time-frame൲.
10-108 – Southee’s best Test performance in a match
Southee r🥃etur♋ned with 10-108 against England at Lord’s in 2013, albeit in a losing cause. It was his only ten-wicket haul in a match.
56 – New Zealand’s highest wicket-taker in 2019-21 WTC
Southee was New Zealand’s leading wicket-takꦡer and the fourth-highest overall in the inaugural WTC in 2019-21. He picked 56 wickets in just 𒅌11 Tests at an average of 20.8 and strike rate of 46.2, with 5 four-fers and 3 fifers. The fast bowler played a pivotal role in New Zealand’s triumph.
164 – Highest number of wickets in T20I cricket
Southee was no🥂t a Test specialist but an all-format bowler. He was the leading wicket-taker in T20I cricket history with 164 dismissals in 123 innings at an average of 16💞.7 and economy of 8.
5-18 & 7-33 – Best bowling figures for NZ bowler in T20I & ODI cricket
Southee holds the record for the best bowling figures by a New Zealand bowler in T20I cricket. He bagged five wickets conceding just 18 runs in 4 overs against Pakistan in Auckland in 2010. Southee also holds th✱e record for the best bowling figures by a New Zealand bowler in ODI cricket. He ran through the England batting line-up in the 2015 World🌳 Cup encounter in Wellington, routing the opponents for 123. Southee returned with magical figures of 7-33 in 9 overs.
77 – Sixth-highest number of wickets in World Cups
Southee has a total of 77 wickets combined in the ODI and T20 World Cups at an average of 22.79 and strike rate of 22.4. He is at number 6 on the all-time list after Mitchell Starc, Lasith Malinga, Shakib Al Hasan, Trent Boult and Muttia♏h Muralitharan.
