Watch: Emotional scenes! Tim Southee leads New Zealand out carrying his daughter in farewell Test

Tim Southee is all set to bid an emotional farewell to Test cricket, as the fast bowler took the field for New Zealand in whites for the last time in the third and final Test of the home series against England at Seddon Park, Hamilton, on Saturday (December 14).

Emotional scenes were on full display before the Hamilton Test got underway, as the legendary Kiwi bowler took his family to the ground for his farewell Test match against England.

Tim Southee leads New Zealand team with daughter in his farewell Test

Interestingly, Southee made his Test debut against England in 2008, and now he is facing the Three Lions again in his final appearance in the traditional format of the game.

Read Also: Gus Atkinson becomes the second cricketer in history to achieve this monumental milestone

Tim Southee took his young daughter onto the field as the New Zealand pacer walked out for his final Test at his home ground—Seddon Park. Southee led the New Zealand cricket team to the field as his daughter joined him for the national anthem in Hamilton on Saturday.

A moment to cherish forever 🫶#TimSouthee walks out for his final Test with his daughter as Seddon Park applauds the Kiwi pacer 👏👨‍👧#SonySportsNetwork #NZvENG #ThankYouTim pic.twitter.com/fYDgHQm4Ls

— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) December 14, 2024

Tim Southee receives guard of honor from England players at Seddon Park

Meanwhile, Tim Southee also received the guard of honor from the England cricket team when he walked out to bat, and this gesture earned thunderous applause from the Seddon Park crowd, bringing the curtain down on his illustrious 16-year-long career.

Southee was given respect by all the England players when he arrived to bat after the fall of New Zealand's eighth wicket in Hamilton. All the English players clapped for the retiring Kiwi icon.

Well, the farewell celebrations reached their peak when Southee walked onto the field, as the crowd at Seddon Park stood up and applauded while England players formed a guard of honor for the icon.

A GUARD OF HONOUR FOR TIM SOUTHEE! #NZvsENG pic.twitter.com/RlHkN3q170

— Dialectical Guy (@dialecticalguy) December 14, 2024

The right-hander scored 23 runs off just 10 balls before getting out to Gus Atkinson in Hamilton. The 36-year-old seamer hit a boundary and three sixes during his quickfire knock in the ongoing third and final Test against England.

Tim Southee equals Chris Gayle's Test record in Hamilton

After hitting three maximums in Hamilton, Tim Southee has achieved a significant milestone by equalling Chris Gayle’s six-hitting record in Test cricket. Southee and Gayle both now have 98 sixes to their name in Test cricket.

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The iconic list is headed by the Australian legend Adam Gilchrist (100), New Zealand’s Brendon McCullum (107), and England’s current Test captain Ben Stokes (133).

Well, Southee’s Test career has been outstanding, as he has already 389 wickets in 106 matches at an average of 30.21, including 15 five-wicket hauls, to his name, and he would certainly add to his tally in his farewell Test match against England at Seddon Park.

The retiring pacer is New Zealand’s second-highest Test wicket-taker, trailing only Sir Richard Hadlee, who claimed 431 wickets. Across all three formats of the game, Southee has been the leader of New Zealand’s bowling attack, with 774 international wickets—the highest by any Black Caps bowler.

However, Southee's performance has declined in recent months. In 2024, the star pacer has taken 15 wickets in 10 matches, with an average of 61.66, in the longest format of the game. Since March 2023, the Kiwi pacer has not taken more than two wickets in an innings.