Black Caps v England: Tim Southee finishes on a fittingly high note

Tim Southee (centre) took two wickets in his final test innings for New Zealand. Photo / Photosport

Tim Southee delivered an appropriate final ball in test cricket.

Running towards his eponymous end at Seddon Park, he asked a measured line-and-length question of Ollie Pope outside off stump at 129.2km/h, which was defended into the covers.

The 36-year-old right-armer might have lost a yard of pace in recent years, but his cricketing guile remained omnipresent, never shirking from a desire to compete.

He was compulsive viewing during his pomp, plying his trade in a lean and menacing fashion. That involved gliding into a rhythmical run-up, launching into an economical action and ensuring the slip cordon remained on red alert.

Often of late we were told how his numbers only told part of the story in relation to his spot in the team, but they’re worth mentioning.

Southee finishes with 391 test wickets at 30.26 – the promising Jacob Bethell was his last, caught at backward point for 76 – placing him second on the national aggregate list behind Sir Richard Hadlee.

That is the key statistic stretching back to his debut as a 19-year-old against England at Napier in March 2008.

His 86 catches were testament to incredible hand-eye co-ordination, but the 98 sixes tonked at a batting average of 15.48 always felt like a style over substance distraction.

Southee had taken 15 wickets at an average 61.66 leading into the final test this year, more than double his career mean, so the value of guaranteed selection on a valedictory tour deserved scrutiny.

However, to question his contribution to the golden World Test Championship-winning era would be churlish. Southee, in partnership with Trent Boult and Neil Wagner, presented an extraordinary seam of talent. The vision of him leading the celebrations with his teammates on the balcony at Southampton after securing the mace against India in June 2021 was a tonic for New Zealand fans during the shackles of Covid-19.

Southee represents a time-honoured New Zealand farm-boy-made-good narrative. He sauntered in raw from the paddocks of Waiotira in Northland and triumphed on the some of the world’s finest sporting stages.

He yo-yoed out of the Black Caps numerous times through form or injury – but resilience ultimately paid dividends, including his anointment as the country’s 31st test captain.

Southee summed up the end to his career in a fashion similar to his pragmatism with the ball.

“I was at peace when I made my decision... The game’s been brilliant to me and is everything I’ve known since I was 19 years old. I’ll miss it, but I’ve got 17 years of memories to call back on.”

His proudly soiled No 237 black cap can rest easy after gracing a test match for the 107th and final time.