Stand up Tim Southee and take a bow.   

Who woulda thunk it that the fresh faced 19 year old that rolled onto McLean Park back in 2008 would retire from the game, on his own terms, versus the team he debuted against all those years ago? He started with a statement, 5-55 and a belligerent 77 not out, and I’d hazard a guess he’ll bookend his career with a bag and a half century against the English in his final game at home in Hamilton.   

He’ll probably never shed the 77* he scored in his first test, an innings that he never replicated and hung around his neck for his whole career. At least he is close to a tonne of 6’s hit, making up to a degree for the lack of test runs after such a promising start. But we don’t celebrate Southee the batter, we celebrate Southee the bowler, a man who holds a hatful of records in the game:  

• Only player in the world to claim more than 300 test wickets, 200 ODI wickets and 100 T20I wickets.  
• He has 164 T20I wickets, the most in world cricket. 
• Played in more test wins than any other Kiwi, 46 all told. 
• He has the most international wickets for a Kiwi, 770 across all formats. 
• The best figures for NZ in ODIs, 7-33 v England at Wellington, 2015.  
• The best figures for NZ in T20Is, 5-18 v Pakistan at Auckland, 2010.  
• Only New Zealander to take two T20I hat-tricks.  
• One of only four players in the world to play 100-plus internationals in all three formats.  

He’s captained the side, been a key part of famous victories, and has the best nickname of any international cricketer.   

The Sexy Camel is firmly locked into the pantheon of NZ cricket greats, and his partnership with Lovely Trenty across the decades will be remembered as the best new ball duo the country has ever seen.  

It’s been a ride Tim, looking forward to watching you end it with a flourish.  

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