As the veteran New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor has announced his retirement from international cricket, fast bowler Tim Southee has paid a warm and heartfelt tribute to him recently. Taylor on Thursday has announced on Twitter that he would hang up his boots at the end of the home summer after having played for 17 years.

However, he has eight more matches left as well, including two Tests against Bangladesh and six ODIs against Australia and the Netherlands as well. However, while praising Ross Taylor for his services to New Zealand, Southee opined on the veteran batter’s importance to the team as well.

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“Any time a player retires, it’s a messy moment especially when someone who has played and been a regular in the squad for such a long period of time. It will take some adjusting to look around and not see Ross as a player or have him in this side. That assurance of having a quality player around, and the runs he’s had and the job he’s done for this side over a long period of time has been amazing,” he stated.

Tim Southee, who has played along with Taylor for 12 years, shared his views on the veteran’s dressing room demeanour and how his quiet presence will be missed in the squad as well. Southee even shared how Taylor informed him of his decision when they were in a training session before Christmas.

“We did a bit of training in Hamilton pre-Christmas. He told me there. Anytime someone says that you’re taken back a little bit, but he’s obviously made that decision. It’s been great to play alongside him for so long and he let me know just before Christmas. Like I said, it’s a strange feeling when you see guys come and go. Especially when guys have been around for a long time,” he again told.

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However, Toss Taylor will play his 111th and 112th Tests against Bangladesh in the upcoming series from 1 January 2022 as well. The first match is slated to take place at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, Tauranga from 1-5 January. The second and final Test will take place at Hagley Oval, Christchurch on 9 January and end on 13 January.