The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have announced the addition of the former New Zealand fast-bowler, Tim Southee, as their latest addition to the men’s team’s coaching staff as a specialist skills consultant on a short-term basis across all formats.
The 36-year-old had recently retired from Test cricket in December 2024 after finishing as New Zealand’s leading wicket-taker across all three formats with 776 wickets to his name. He will now be working with the English bowling unit till the end of the upcoming five-match Test series against India at home.
He will then be taking part in The Hundred where he will be playing for the Birmingham Phoenix franchise which is set to begin four days after the final Test against India at the Oval.
“With his vast experience of playing in a wide range of conditions around the world and across all formats, he brings valuable insight and knowledge to the players,” said the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in a statement on Thursday.
The ECB also highlighted that Southee will join the squad ahead of England’s first fixture of the international summer which is a four-day Test against Zimbabwe set to be played at Trent Bridge on May 22.
His appointment also implies that he will be reunited with his former international teammate and former New Zealand skipper, Brendon McCullum who is also England’s Head Coach across all three formats.
In the longest format, Southee has amassed 391 wickets in 107 Tests, becoming the second highest wicket-taker for the Blackcaps only behind the great Sir Richard Hadlee with 431 wickets to his name. He also has 221 wickets in 161 ODIs and 164 scalps in 126 T20 internationals as well.
