Southee, Williamson set for historic 100 as New Zealand announce squad for Australia Tests

In a testament to their longevity and skill, Tim Southee and Kane Williamson will be gearing up to become the fifth and sixth Kiwi cricketers to achieve the remarkable milestone of playing 100 Test matches. This historic feat is set to unfold during the upcoming Test series against Australia, kicking off in Wellington later this month.

Following the illustrious footsteps of Stephen Fleming, Daniel Vettori, Brendon McCullum, and Ross Taylor, Captain Southee, and former captain Williamson are poised to etch their names in cricketing history. The duo's journey from the Northern Districts pathway to representing New Zealand together at the Under-19 level has been nothing short of extraordinary.

Southee, the current captain, stands as New Zealand’s second all-time leading Test wicket-taker, while Williamson holds the esteemed title of the all-time leading Test run-scorer for the Kiwis. Their cricketing journey has been peppered with milestones, including reaching the 50-Test mark together back in 2016 against Zimbabwe.

Gary Stead, the head coach of BLACKCAPS, praised Tim Southee and Kane Williamson for their remarkable contributions to the team, highlighting that playing 100 Tests for one's country is an incredible achievement. Stead emphasised the immense longevity, skill, and character required to consistently improve and manage the demands of Test cricket over an extended period.

"To play 100 Tests for your country is an incredible achievement. It takes a huge amount of longevity and skill, and to keep improving and to manage the demands of Test cricket over a long period is a testament to their character," the coach said, as quoted by nzc.nz

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Both players have left an indelible mark on New Zealand cricket, and their achievements at the Test level are a testament to their exceptional skills.

"Tim and Kane continue to be brilliant servants of the game in New Zealand and influential figures in the BLACKCAPS environment. Their achievements at Test level speak for themselves and they are undoubtedly two of the greatest players to have ever worn the New Zealand Test shirt," Stead further emphasised.

As the duo celebrates their impending milestone, the Black Caps squad see the return of Daryl Mitchell for the two-Test series. Mitchell, who missed the second Test against South Africa and the Australia T20Is due to a foot injury, is expected to make a strong comeback.

Scott Kuggeleijn joins the squad in place of the injured Kyle Jamieson, making a return to the Test scene after his debut against England at Bay Oval last summer. Selector Sam Wells highlighted Kuggeleijn's outstanding performances for New Zealand A against Australia A.

"Scott performed admirably with both bat and ball on the recent New Zealand A tour to Australia. He will bring genuine pace with the ball and adds extra depth with the bat which is always valuable at Test level," said Wells.

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The rest of the squad remains unchanged after their historic Test series victory over South Africa, with notable performances from debutant Will O’Rourke and the inclusion of spin options in Mitchell Santner, Rachin Ravindra, and all-rounder Glenn Phillips.

New Zealand squad for Australia Tests:

Tim Southee (c), Tom Blundell (wk), Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Scott Kuggeleijn, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Neil Wagner, Kane Williamson, and Will Young.

The team are set to gather in Wellington on February 26, gearing up for the inaugural Test at the fully booked Cello Basin Reserve, commencing on February 29.