New Zealand pacer Tim Southee said that Ross Taylor will be missed in the changing room and it will take a bit of time for the Kiwis to look around and not see him sitting there after the veteran announced he would retire from international cricket at the conclusion of the home summer.

Southee and Taylor have played alongside each other for the last 12 years, and the veteran pacer said that it would be a messy moment when the batter would not be there while hailing him for his amazing job for New Zealand over the years at the highest level.

New Zealand's upcoming Test series against Bangladesh will be Taylor's farewell to the longest format of the game, while he will finish his ODI career with the series against Australia and the Netherlands.

Read Also: Ross Taylor announces his retirement from international cricket

Southee said in a statement: “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 signed off by saying, “He's been a regular feature of the changing room for such a long period of time. He's a quiet sort of guy and sorts of sits back and enjoys a good time, in sitting back and enjoying a wine or a drink after a test win are moments he'll cherish forever. He's a great guy to have around the changing room. Like I said, he's quite reserved, but he will be missed... It'll take a bit of time for guys to look around and not see Ross sitting there.”

Notably, the two-match Test series between New Zealand and Bangladesh will start from January 1 at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, Tauranga. The second and final Test will be played at Hagley Oval, Christchurch from January 9-13 and the series will be streamed live on Amazon Prime Video.

(With ANI Inputs)