300th test wicket ‘special’ for Southee
Mt Maunganui: In an ideal world, Tim Southee would have captured his 300th test wicket with an outswinger that got an edge through to BJ Watling behind the stumps, Ross Taylor at first slip, or someone further afield in the cordon.
The Black Caps seamer did that three times as he marched towards the milestone in the first test against Pakistan at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, claiming wickets 297, 298, and 299, but when he got to 300, it was a catch at short cover by Mitchell Santner that did the trick.
Haris Sohail was the unlucky batsman, on his way for nine early in the final session of day four, granting Southee entry to an exclusive club of New Zealanders to take 300 test wickets, which now consists of him, former team-mate Daniel Vettori, and the country’s greatest cricketer, Sir Richard Hadlee.
After celebrating with family on the banks, he said it was “special” to join that club, which is likely to induct another member in the near future, as Trent Boult is just 25 scalps away.
“Obviously not many people have been able to do it and the two that have, they’re two of our greatest cricketers, so to be in that bracket with those guys…
“When I was a kid, all I wanted to do was play cricket for New Zealand and to sit here after a reasonable time of doing that, having achieved a couple of things along the way, it’s a pretty cool feeling.”
He said the milestone had been in the background throughout the test, but that his focus had been on doing his best for his team – one of whom celebrated slightly prematurely.
Now that he’s joined the 300-wicket club, which consists of just 34 members worldwide, Southee can set his sights on joining Hadlee in the 400-wicket club, which contains just 16 members, all told.
Then there’s the possibility of surpassing Hadlee, who took 431 wickets, as the country’s leading wicket-taker, which would take another 28 tests, if Southee continues to capture them at the rate he has in his last 28. “I’d love to play for as long as I possibly can,” he said.
“I only just turned 32 the other day – people probably think I’m a little older than what I am – but it’s something I love doing.” Stuff