The 36-year-old New Zealand pacer Tim Southee has retired from Test cricket on a high note. He will forever stay as a legend in the Blackcaps cricket history.

Tim Southee played his last Test at Hamilton, where New Zealand beat England by 423 runs, which was their joint-largest Test victory margin by runs. Southee had some great times in the Hamilton Test by scoring 23 runs in the first innings and picking up two wickets in the fourth innings. 

Tim Southee has remarkable stats in Test career

In his Test career, Southee has recorded 391 wickets in 107 matches. While he finished his Test career with the fourth most Test appearances by a New Zealand cricketer, he finished as the second most Test wicket-taker for the Blackcaps. Only Sir Richard Hadlee recorded more Test wickets than Southee in New Zealand Test cricket history with 431 wickets. In his Test career, Southee recorded 15 fifers and one ten-wicket haul. 

Moreover, the right-handed batter Southee scored 2245 Test runs with an average of 15.48 but had a handsome strike rate of 82.68. He recorded seven Test half-centuries, including his highest score 77 not out. Southee hit 98 Test sixes, which is the joint fourth most Test sixes by a batter. 

In his Test career, Southee took 86 catches. He is the only eighth player in Test cricket history to manage the all-round record of at least scoring 2000 runs, picking up 300 wickets, and taking 50 catches. 

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I'm just very grateful for what I've been able to do: Tim Southee

On his farewell ceremony, Southee said, "100 sixes, 400 Test wickets, 100 catches, whatever, that would have all been nice, but I'm just very grateful for what I've been able to do. The time I've had in the hat has been pretty special. As a kid, I just wanted to grow up and represent New Zealand, so to sit here and have nearly 800 wickets, it's pretty satisfying."

Southee has picked up 776 international wickets, which is the most by a New Zealand bowler, the seventh most by a pacer, and the 10th most in overall Test cricket history.

Sir Richard Hadlee was present at Southee’s farewell ceremony. He said that the pacer deserves to achieve 400 Test wickets. 

The legendary all-rounder said, "It would have been only fitting that Tim could have ended his career if he had reached the 400 Test wicket mark. In my opinion, he deserved that."

Southee has also hinted at fulfilling his dream of rugby sports, popular in New Zealand. The Blackcaps pacer said on that, "That’s always been a dream, but I’ll have to see how the body pulls up over the next wee while.”

Southee made his international debut in February 2008 during the Auckland T20I against England. In the next month, he made his Test debut against the same opponent at Napier. In June 2008, he made his ODI debut once again against England at Chester-le-Street.