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"Tim Southee's Farewell Test: A Touching Guard of Honour from England Captained by Ben Stokes"
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The opening day of the third Test between England and New Zealand was marked by a poignant moment as Tim Southee made his final appearance in Test cricket. England's players, under the leadership of Ben Stokes, paid a touching tribute to the retiring fast bowler by forming a guard of honour as he approached the crease, honouring a distinguished career that encompassed 107 Tests.
Accompanied by his daughter and fellow New Zealand teammates, Southee appeared visibly emotional as he stepped onto the field with his bat, signifying the conclusion of a significant chapter in New Zealand cricket history.
In his first innings, Southee showcased his characteristic aggressive play, impressively scoring 23 runs off just 10 balls. His innings included a boundary and three impressive sixes, bringing his total number of sixes in Test cricket to 98, thereby equaling Chris Gayle's record.
Only three players have hit more sixes in Test cricket: Adam Gilchrist (100), Brendon McCullum (107), and Ben Stokes (133).
Watch the guard of honour here:
Southee's rapid innings contributed significantly to a late resurgence by New Zealand, who concluded Day 1 with a score of 315 for 9. Mitchell Santner, who remained not out on 50, along with the lower-order batsmen, accumulated 76 vital runs in the last eight overs, salvaging the team from a difficult situation following a collapse in the middle order.
Earlier in the day, New Zealand had established a strong foundation, with openers Tom Latham (65) and Will Young (47) forming a 105-run partnership, marking the team's best opening stand in 28 Tests. Young, who returned to the lineup in place of Devon Conway, also achieved the milestone of 1,000 career Test runs, a personal success amid a challenging day for the home side.
Nevertheless, New Zealand's progress was hindered as England's bowlers, particularly Brydon Carse and Ben Stokes, secured critical breakthroughs. Important middle-order wickets, including those of Kane Williamson (44) and Tom Blundell (21), were lost due to lapses in focus.
The day's standout moment occurred when Harry Brook executed a remarkable catch at the boundary to dismiss Matt Henry (8), further compounding New Zealand's difficulties.
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