ILT20

Biography

With all kinds of swing in his repertoire, Tim Southee built one of New Zealand's most decorated bowling careers. The Kiwis have been fortunate enough to have plenty of swing bowlers at their disposal and the duo of Trent Boult and Tim Southee were a blessing for them, paving a path to their team's success in Test cricket.

Born in Whangarei, Southee began his professional career with Northern Districts before breaking into the national side as a teenager. His performances at the 2008 Under-19 World Cup, where he took 17 wickets and was named Player of the Tournament. He made his Test debut against England in Napier later that year and immediately announced himself, taking a five-wicket haul in the first innings before smashing 77 off just 40 balls in the second.

Southee went on to become a key figure across formats, but it was in Test cricket where his ability to swing the ball and attack with the new ball made him particularly valuable. His partnership with Boult became a defining feature of New Zealand's attack, while his lower-order hitting added another dimension to his game. He also featured for several IPL franchises, including Chennai, Mumbai, Rajasthan, Bengaluru and Kolkata, and remained an important part of New Zealand's white-ball setup. At the 2023 ODI World Cup, despite playing only 4 matches, he made an impact with 7 wickets.

In 2024, Southee brought the curtains down on his Test career at his home ground in Hamilton. New Zealand signed off his farewell with a resounding 423-run victory over England, giving one of the country's finest fast bowlers a fitting final chapter. His Test career was also marked by his remarkable contribution with the bat, with 98 sixes making him one of the most prolific six-hitters in the format. New Zealand Cricket's Sir Richard Hadlee Medal in 2022 and, in 2025, his appointment as an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to cricket both stand out as recognition of a career defined by longevity and sustained excellence across formats.

Retirement from international duty didn't mean stepping away from the sport. Southee spent part of 2025 working as England's fast-bowling consultant. That stint included their home Test series against India. He also turned out for Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred. In November 2025, Kolkata Knight Riders named him their bowling coach for IPL 2026. It was the franchise where he enjoyed his best IPL form as a player, including a 14-wicket haul in 2022. The move brought him back into a KKR dugout under a freshly overhauled coaching staff led by new head coach Abhishek Nayar.