One of New Zealand’s most celebrated cricketers, Tim Southee, has retired with his boots hung up, and all fans and commentators are left to think about the monumental legacy he has left behind him during his long career.
A dangerous outswinger and a powerhouse under the gun, Southee’s trajectory has been unfathomable. But what will he be remembered for, and is his career up there with the elite? Let’s take a look.
At his best, Tim Southee was an artist with the cricket ball, a painter with a palette. He wasn’t a pure speed thrower, but an enchanter to the masses and an exasperator to batters with his incredible command over the ball.
Whether conditions favoured or not, Southee was known for his consistency. But his real speciality was his extracting movement - he could force even the most hesitant batter to make mistakes.
His monopoly of seaming New Zealand was legendary. In green wickets at Basin Reserve and Seddon Park, Southee was always one that outwitted the top order with late swing that they couldn’t stop. He had the perfect wrist position on release and great seam control, making him a lethal animal in the rain or shine.
But Southee’s skill didn’t just end in New Zealand. In England, the home of swing bowlers, he was the most productive. His five-wicket whammy at Lord’s in 2013 was a masterclass in swing bowling, when he tore apart a potent English bowling attack.
He even played well in Australia, where the Kookaburra ball hasn’t been a big threat for bowlers after the first overs. He used subtle variations in length and angle, and again and again he outwitted the best batters in the world.
Southee’s evolution from a brash teenage international debutant to a senior authority of the game was one of regularity and intuitive command. Keeping your rhythm, fitness and form throughout formats is a daily grind as a fast bowler but Southee broke all the predictions.
He bowled in perfect form and put up good shows every single year as a mark of his dedication to the game. Even in circumstances in which his ability wasn’t as required, he could still contribute and prove himself to be a reliable all-round cricketer.
His management talents were innate from early on. Southee was always in the thick of it with the team’s leadership before being named captain. He was composed and cool - an excellent teacher for younger bowlers, teaching them how to hone their technique and prepare for international cricket. He had helped the likes of Kyle Jamieson and Matt Henry become professional bowlers.
Southee’s career is peppered with standout moments. His seven-wicket haul against England in the 2015 World Cup will live in cricketing memory as a big-match knock that made him known internationally.
Southee’s contributions weren’t just a thing of the ball either - his lower-order batsmen routinely contributed some important runs.
As you’d expect, he was also a favourite among bettors. In his prime, Tim Southee saw some of the best odds on sites like 10cric - cricket online betting as well as other popular platforms.
Tim Southee’s life ran alongside a golden age of New Zealand cricket. Southee, along with regulars Kane Williamson and Trent Boult, took the Black Caps to new heights.
Southee’s rise to international cricket’s legend status – from 2015 and 2019 World Cup finals to the first World Test Championship in 2021 – saw New Zealand established as a force of nature in international cricket. He was an underdog-inspiring performer, which is how a team that once wasn’t the biggest star became one of the favourites to win.
Southee’s career wasn’t all smooth sailing, though. One of the most persistent criticisms he got was how he pitched in subcontinental conditions , where flat pitches and a lack of swing rendered his virtues pointless.
Southee’s usual arsenal of movement and seam position (on dry, spin-friendly cuts in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) didn’t quite work the same miracle on dry Indian, Pakistani and Sri Lankan tracks. His less-than-ideal record under those circumstances was used as ammunition against critics who believed that he was too slow compared to other fast-bowling heroes.
But Southee had fought forever to overcome these failures. He devised clever substitutes, cutters and scrambled-seams, to survive on eerily still wickets. His numbers in the subcontinent weren’t nearly as prolific as his scores in the rest of the world, but some came near, such as his five wicket haul in Hyderabad against India in 2012.
These were times to show that despite the circumstances, Southee always tried to get better.
Tim Southee for fans is the ideal New Zealand cricket character - humble, a hustler and a massive talent. He was a man beyond his stature who endeared himself to cricket fans who loved his play and passion for the game.
In social media tributes, since the announcement of his retirement, others have called him one of the greatest swing bowlers of his generation. It might not be obvious whether he is in the company of New Zealand’s greatest cricketers, but no-one could deny his contributions to the game and the inspiration he gave to emerging cricketers.
Southee will leave international cricket behind, but his legacy will live on. He’s supposed to stay in the game - either coaching, commentating or as a mentor.
He’s an experienced, well-informed player who is an asset for the next generation. For the public, the retirement of Southee was the end of a time, but the beginning of another.
It is time to mourn Tim Southee’s retirement – a day to honour a career that showed excellence, hard work, and class. Southee’s saga, from his start as a budding genius to veteran campaigner, has been nothing short of legendary.
He might be no longer emblazoned on the Black Caps jersey, but his memory will live on and shape New Zealand cricket.
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