New Zealand pacer Tim Southee has announced his retirement from Tests, making his upcoming home series against England his final assignment unless his side qualifies for next year’s ICC World Test Championship final in June.

Southee will bid farewell to the Kiwi whites at his home ground at Seddon Park in Hamilton where the third Test of the series will be played between December 14-18. Soon to be 36, Southee is New Zealand’s highest all-format wicket-taker (770) and is only second to the legendary Richard Hadlee (431) in Tests for the team, with 385 scalps in 104 appearances.

Southee also announced that he will make a decision on his white-ball swansong before New Zealand host Sri Lanka at the end of December. The right-arm seamer who made his international debut in 2008 holds the distinction of being the only pacer to play 100 matches in each of the three formats. Southee is also the only bowler to bag 300 Test, 200 ODI and 100 T20I wickets.

“Representing New Zealand was all I ever dreamed of growing up,” he said.

“To play for the BLACKCAPS for 18 years has been the greatest honour and privilege, but the time feels right to now step away from the game that has given so much to me.

“Test cricket holds a special place in my heart, so to be able to play such a big series against the same opponent my Test career began against all those years ago, and on three grounds that are incredibly special to me, seems the perfect way to end my time in the black cap,” Southee said in a statement.

Southee relinquished his Test captaincy last month before New Zealand whitewashed India 3-0 at home under Tom Latham. He featured in four ODI World Cups, seven T20I World Cups, two Champions Trophy events. Southee was integral to New Zealand’s WTC final triumph in the inaugural edition in 2021 over India, picking five wickets in the summit clash.