New Delhi, November 15 (IANS). New Zealand’s experienced fast bowler Tim Southee said that the decision to end his Test career after the upcoming series against England is the right one for him. However, Southee will be available to play if New Zealand qualifies for the 2025 World Test Championship final.
“One last chance at three grounds that have been very good to me and places I really like playing. It’s a difficult decision, but I think it’s the right one,” Southee told reporters in Auckland. “There are some promising young bowlers who I’ve really enjoyed working with and hopefully I’ve taught them a few things along the way.”
“And they’ve definitely taught me a thing or two, so it’s been a pleasure and now it’s time to move this team forward. I think you just take whatever is in front of you,” he said. Look and last year we had the World Cup and at the beginning of this year we had a part of Test cricket, which I think was all exciting in the last 12 months, and you can see the end of that exciting part. are close and you look forward and it’s a great opponent There’s a marquee series against (England), obviously against whom I started so many years ago, and it feels right.”
Coincidentally, Southee made his Test debut against England under Daniel Vettori at Napier in March 2008, where he took five wickets in the first innings while scoring 77 not out with the bat, although New Zealand lost. “It was a dream start. I think walking into the changing room, you see players like Vettori, Fleming, McCullum as a 19-year-old kid. That was a special week. Obviously, the result wasn’t what we wanted. Wanted, but I think to be able to perform at that level and go into the changing room with my heroes and be able to get some wickets and some runs in that first game was pretty special.”
Southee’s final Test match will be in his hometown of Hamilton, meaning he will bid farewell to the longest format by playing in front of family and friends. “Hamilton is home now, so it’s nice that (I’ll) be able to walk from there and go home – maybe not go home – but be able to finish the game in front of friends and family. It’s a ground where I’ve played a lot of cricket. And I’ve played a lot of cricket for Northern Districts and New Zealand, so it’s a special venue like the other two, the Basin and obviously a wonderful Test venue, I said. feels right against Great fellow, the guy who is also the opponent’s coach has been a huge contributor to my career and as I said, he is a very close friend.
–IANS
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