Tim Southee is within touching distance of the likes of Kevin Pietersen, Matthew Hayden and even the legendary Viv Richards.
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New Zealand captain Tim Southee is one of the country’s finest fast bowlers, but on Day 2 of their second Test against England, he broke a batting record set by former India leader MS Dhoni. Southee is recognised as a handy big hitter in the lower order, and he struck two sixes on Saturday to remain undefeated on 23 off 18 balls. This brought his career total of sixes in Test cricket to 78, putting him on par with Dhoni and within striking distance of Kevin Pietersen and Matthew Hayden. West Indies legend Viv Richards will surpass Southee’s total if he scores six more maximums.
Dhoni played 90 Tests until retiring unexpectedly during India’s tour of Australia in 2014, amassing 4876 runs at an average of 38.09, with six centuries, 33 half-centuries, and a top score of 224. Conversely, Southee has amassed 1898 runs at an average of 15.94, with five half-centuries and a top score of 77 not out. It is worth mentioning that he is the only player with an average of less than 20 in the top 15 of all-time highest six-hitters in Test cricket, with the others all playing as batters or all-rounders.
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Ben Stokes, Southee’s opponent, just surpassed former New Zealand captain and current England head coach Brendon McCullum at the top of the list. Stokes surpassed McCullum’s aggregate of 107 sixes during the first Test of the two-match series. Southee is the third most prolific six-hitter among New Zealand hitters in Test cricket, trailing only former all-rounder Chris Cairns with 87 sixes. On Day 2 of the second Test, Southee became the first New Zealand bowler to surpass 700 international wickets. His squad, on the other hand, continued to struggle, being reduced to 138/7 after England declared 435/8 in their first innings. The hosts had been defeated by 267 runs in the first Test against a rampant England who has won 10 of their last 11 matches after Stokes took over as Test captain.
Kane Williamson and Henry Nicholls put a stop to an otherwise action-packed third day of play at Wellington’s Basin Reserve, sauntering to a leisurely, unbroken 45-run partnership in the final 21.2 overs to take New Zealand reach 202 for 3 in their second innings. They are still 24 runs behind the visitors. Beginning the day on 138 for 7, New Zealand was on track to finish significantly below par and feared being asked to follow-on. Tim Southee, in particular, challenged that for a short time with his aggressive style. He raced to a 49-ball 73 before mistiming a flick to midwicket’s Zak Crawley.
