Hamilton: New Zealand's Kane Williamson paid tribute to his old compatriot and close friend Tim Southee after the veteran fast bowler announced his retirement after the conclusion of the England series. Williamson and Southee's careers went together, starting at the Under-19 level, through to the domestic circuit and playing their 100th Test for New Zealand against Australia earlier this year. Their 100th Test match took place together, although Williamson made his debut two and a half years after Southee. The experienced batsman is New Zealand's leading run-scorer in the Test format.
On the other hand, Southee is the second highest wicket taker in Test cricket after Richard Hadlee, with 385 wickets to his name. In the upcoming Test, he will have a chance to touch the mark of 400 Test wickets and become the second player from his country to do so. “Playing together for so long, you go through a lot. You both have leadership roles and you go through different turbulent times, then you have some good moments,” Williamson said ahead of the first Test, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. are also there, and they're all part of the experience.” “As a fast bowler Tim has done this for so long, it's incredible, there are very few people in the history of the game who have been able to achieve what he has. He is such a great member of our team [और] Leader and also a close friend,” he said.
Southee is in the final stages of his illustrious career, his retirement marks the departure of another player from New Zealand's successful era which included the likes of Ross Taylor, Colin de Grandhomme and Neil Wagner. “That's life, isn't it. You realize you're closer to the end than the beginning, which is a certainty. It's about navigating those periods because you're a little different than when you play your first game. That feeling when you play your 100th game,” Williamson said. “There are different levels of excitement, your life changes a little bit, whether it's family, extra dogs, whatever you want to do, so the picture takes a little different shape, and your motivation adjusts.” Sadness for Tim But there is also excitement because the end of your time in a sporting professional environment is scary, but there is so much more to come,” he said.
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