NZ vs ENG: Tim Southee Receives Guard Of Honor
Tim Southee receives guard of honor in the 3rd Test of NZ vs ENG.
NZ vs ENG: Tim Southee ended his test career in style by making history on Saturday, the opening day of the third test between New Zealand and England. The 36-year-old paceman, playing in his 107th and final Test match, hit three sixes, increasing his total of sixes in Tests to 98. With this, he equaled West Indies legend Chris Gayle’s tally of sixes, cementing his place in the top ranks of the all-time list.
This achievement placed him joint fourth alongside Gayle, a significant accomplishment in Test cricket. Southee’s brief but explosive knock of 23 runs off just 10 balls added some late fireworks to New Zealand’s total of 315 for 9 by the end of the first day’s play.
3rd Test NZ vs ENG, Tim Southee’s honor
Advertisement
His aggressive approach, mainly at the tail end of the innings, helped New Zealand push their score to a higher level. Mitchell Santner, who had also contributed quite significantly to New Zealand’s total, brought up his fourth Test half-century by hitting a six off the final ball of the day.
He remained not out at 50 runs while Will O’Rourke was yet to get off the mark at the other end. The New Zealand innings started well, with the opening partnership between Tom Latham and Will Young adding 105 runs to the scoreboard.
This was the first time in the series that New Zealand managed to get off to a good start against England who had already taken a comprehensive 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Earlier tests that England won by a decisive three tests occurred consecutively.
In each of the last two, England won by eight wickets in four days in the first and by an astonishing 323 runs margin inside three days in the last. Tim Southee played his farewell test and also received a heartwarming goodbye from the New Zealanders as he walked out of the ground for the last time.
Southee was given a guard of honor by his fellow mates; he was one of the veteran cricketers who played for New Zealand since his international debut in 2008. He is the one who represented the nation in all formats of international cricket. Throughout his cricketing career, he managed to take 389 Test wickets, 221 ODIs, and 164 wickets in T20Is. Southee has been a very valuable asset to New Zealand, and his achievements have left an indelible mark on the cricketing world.
He has been a pivotal part of New Zealand’s rise in international cricket, including being part of the team during their Under-19 World Cup campaign in 2008, alongside future cricket star Virat Kohli. Now, as he says his goodbye to Test cricket, his legacy inspires, not only in New Zealand but all around the cricketing world.
New Zealand’s tail-enders played their part very well, adding 76 runs in the last eight overs as the game progressed into the opening day. So, the Kiwis went to the crease having been given an initial scare but could still make a reasonable total. The England bowlers had been clinical with their approach but New Zealand showed resilience in the closing stages of their innings, that they can be a team to fight back.
The match had a lot of history attached to it for New Zealand in that it was the last outing of this era with a cricketer of the class of Tim Southee. He was leaving, and the way this team performed on the field on that day was an all-time drama.
As the NZ vs ENG series reaches its final Test, New Zealand will be hoping their resolute play inspires them to challenge the dominant side, England, who are seeking a clean sweep of the series.