“Tim is going to leave a long legacy” - Latham hails Southee’s contribution to New Zealand

The Hamilton Test against England will be Tim Southee’s final appearance in the longest format of the game. Not for nothing, he will end up as one of the greatest fast bowlers of our time, having picked 389 wickets at an average of 30.21. 

As a matter of fact, Southee is the only bowler to take the combination of more than 300 wickets in Tests, 200 in One-Day Internationals (221) and 100 in T20Is (164). 

He will depart as New Zealand's second-greatest wicket-taker, with his current tally of 389 eclipsed only by Sir Richard Hadlee's 431. Hence, as he plays his final Test, his home ground, Seddon Park will also don a carnival avatar, with the Pavilion End temporarily named as Tim Southee End for this game. 

"He's going to be remembered as one of the greats of our game, and obviously, the numbers back that up," Latham said of Southee. 

"But the leader he is, to see how he goes about things day-in, day-out, he's always put the team first regardless of what situation the game's at. That's how he will be remembered. The dressing room will miss him, he's going to leave a long legacy."

There are praises from the opposition camp as well. Ben Stokes called him an “incredible servant to New Zealand” and wished the crowd can give him a good send-off. 

"Tim's been an incredible servant to New Zealand. He's achieved some great things out on the field. He's someone who I'll always remember, he just keeps coming at you, in particular with the ball,” Stokes said.

"Hopefully, he gets a nice send-off from the crowd but hopefully not with a win."

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