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Tim Southee, one of New Zealand’s greatest cricket players, was given a farewell he isn’t likely to forget in a hurry.

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The fast bowler who played in Toronto on two occasions, including earlier this year in the Global T20 Canada, bowed out of the game on a high after New Zealand handed England one of its worst hammerings in his hometown of Hamilton.

The 423-run margin was one of England’s heaviest losses in the way of runs in history and came on the heels of the embarrassing defeat by 434 runs by India in Rajkot earlier this year. There was some consolation for the visitors as it had already clinched the three-match series 2-1.

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England was set a near-impossible 658 for victory, but it crumbled to 234 on the fourth day thanks to some wily spin bowling by Mitch Santner, who grabbed four for 85 and was named player of the match.

England skipper Ben Stokes did not bat as he suffered a recurrence of a left hamstring injury and will have it assessed on Thursday.

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But the day belonged to two Kiwis — Southee and another former skipper Kane Williamson, who smashed a brilliant stroke-filled 156 in the second innings total of 453.

In the first innings it was left to Santner to display his batting skills as well, as he scored 76 in New Zealand’s 347. England’s powerful batting lineup was decimated by fast bowlers Matt Henry, who took four, and Will O’Rourke taking three.

Santner struck with three for seven runs as England returned to the pavilion for a meagre 143.

Southee captured two wickets in his last hurrah with the ball in England’s second knock to bring his Test total to 391 wickets.

Southee will be remembered as part of a New Zealand team that rose to prominence in recent years and he shared high-calibre bowling partnerships with other brilliant fast bowlers such as Shane Bond, Neil Wagner and Trent Boult, who also played in Toronto.

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The highlight of Southee’s career obviously was helping New Zealand defeat India for the ICC World Test Championship in the 2019-2021 cycle. Southee also made his mark with the bat as well as he clobbered 98 sixes — the fourth-highest in the five-day game.

In his final game he plundered three sixes in the first knock to up his total to 98.

To mark his retirement, Cricket New Zealand flew in Sir Richard Hadlee, considered the country’s greatest cricketer, and Southee’s family also was present.

Southee thanked New Zealand cricket, his family and fans in his farewell speech.

“Teammates, you guys made the ride all the more enjoyable. It’s a nice way to fade out after an incredible journey,” Southee said before making his way back to share a last cold one with his team.

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INDIA’S GREAT ESCAPE?

Jasprit Bumrah has kept Australia hopping around the crease with his guile and pace. Now the fast bowler has shown that he also can bat and possibly deny the home team from taking a 2-1 lead in the five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.

In a Test in which India has been totally outplayed, it has been the rain that has come to its rescue time and again — and, of course Bumrah and his fellow-fast bowler Akash Deep, who batted superbly to avoid the follow-on with one day to play in Brisbane.

Travis Head, the hottest batsman in the world right now, struck 152 and Steve Smith rediscovered his scoring skills by making 101 as Australia put on a huge 445 in the first innings knock while Bumrah was the toast of India with a haul of six for 76.

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Australia was hoping to go into the Christmas Test in Melbourne with a lead, but now that India managed to avoid the follow-on it appears this Test is definitely headed for a draw much to the exasperation of Pat Cummins’s squad.

India was reduced to 213 for nine on the soggy Brisbane day and still needed 33 to make the Aussies bat again. And when Deep smashed a four off Cummins to avoid being made to bat again, there were wild celebrations in the balcony attached to the Indian dressing room.

One would think India had just won the Test. There was Virat Kohli, captain Rohit Sharma and coach Gautam Gambhir exchanging high fives and hugs.

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Earlier the home team had put India on the ropes by taking three wickets for 19 runs with KL Rahul, who was dropped on the first ball of the day, made 84 and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja weighed in with 77.

While Cummins was hostile and fellow pacer Mitchell Starc were unplayable at times, the home team missed fellow speedster Josh Hazlewood, who limped out with a calf injury. This means the seamer will most likely be out of the remaining two Tests and will be replaced by Scott Boland.

There’s a lot riding on the series as India must win the two remaining Tests to qualify for the World Test championships, while the Aussies also need two wins to make it to Lord’s next June. The other spot has been filled by South Africa.

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