Tim Southee

Tim Southee carried New Zealand's new-ball attack for the best part of two decades, and his leadership chapter arrived when he took over the Test captaincy from Kane Williamson in 2022. He led the side through a period of transition, including a first Test series win over South Africa in early 2024, before stepping down later that year after a lean run. His captaincy was never about flair; it was about leading from the front with the ball and setting a relentless standard in the field.

As a bowler, Southee's craft was built on old-school virtues: swing, seam, and the ability to make the new ball talk. His 7 for 33 against England at the 2015 World Cup remains one of the great one-day spells by a New Zealander, and in Tests he matured into a deadly accurate operator, particularly with the second new ball. He finished as New Zealand's second-highest Test wicket-taker with 391 scalps, behind only Richard Hadlee, and his outswinger to the right-hander stayed a genuine threat to the end.

Off the field, Southee's influence on the young Black Caps was considerable. He was part of the side that won the inaugural World Test Championship in 2021, and a veteran who taught the next generation about the grind of Test cricket. County spells in England and IPL stints with several franchises kept him sharp in white-ball cricket, though his heart always belonged to the longest format. He retired from international cricket at the end of 2024 with the respect of his peers and a career written in swing.