Sri Lanka vs New Zealand: Tim Southee equals Sachin Tendulkar’s tally of Test sixes

Tim Southee is no mug with the bat in hand by any stretch of the imagination. Back in 2009, when he made his Test debut as a 19-year-old, the New Zealand cricketer showed his prowess with the willow. The then youngster smashed 77 runs off a mere 40 balls with the help of four boundaries and nine colossal sixes. The knock couldn’t help the Black Caps evade a defeat at the McLean Park.

A decade later, the Northland-born doesn’t have overly incredible numbers, but he averages around 18 in the format with five half-centuries. In the bowling department though he has flourished, having picked up 244 Test wickets with eight five-wicket hauls under his belt. In the meantime, the 31-year-old has had the privilege of equaling Sachin Tendulkar, the former Indian cricketer.

Tim Southee smashes Akila Dananjaya to complete the milestone

Tim Southee is currently plying his trade in the Kiwis’ opening Test versus Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium. In 200 Tests, the Master Blaster, as Sachin is popularly known, racked up 69 sixes. On the second day of the ongoing Test, Southee equalled his tally. He danced down the track to off-spinner Akila Dananjaya and deposited the leather into the stands over the bowler’s head.

In the same over, he got run out for 14 off 19 balls. Southee now has more sixes than the likes of Sourav Ganguly, Sanath Jayasuriya and AB de Villiers. If he smashes one more six, then he will equal Younis Khan and Clive Lloyd. Though it’s tough for him to go past Brendon McCullum’s tally of 107 sixes, he can definitely surpass the likes of Kevin Pietersen, Andrew Flintoff and MS Dhoni.

Southee took only 66 Tests to overhaul Sachin’s numbers. On an average Southee hits more than one six per Test, which is something rare in the longer format. As far as his recent performances with the ball are concerned, he has been a tad lacklustre. He wasn’t a regular member of the playing eleven during the 2019 World Cup where Kane Williamson and Co finished as the runners up.

In the present game versus Sri Lanka, he was entrusted to bowl only seven overs in the first innings where his fast bowling partner Trent Boult bowled as many as 20 overs. In his spell, Southee churned out three maidens, conceding only 17 runs and it shows the accuracy with which he bowled.

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