Kane Williamson has never gone overboard to express his emotion- be it in victories or defeats.  

Even when the ODI World Cup Final of 2019 was being played, which would have got on anyone’s nerves, Kane Williamson was stoic but graceful. And that’s despite enduring a heartbreaking end to the final. It didn’t mean the scenario of the final didn’t affect New Zealand’s batting giant; he was devastated, pretty hollow, and numb trying to come to terms with the laws of the game that his team couldn’t win the World Cup despite not losing the finals. But he remained graceful even in defeat.

At the same time, he has never demonstrated overt celebrations upon achieving personal milestones and there are a number of them to his name. Most Test hundreds, the most Test match runs, the highest batting average for New Zealand, the most successful captain on a win-loss ratio and not to forget about the only captain to lead the country to the World Cup title in 2021 with World Test Championship- the list balloons.

In such a scenario, he might treat the 100th Test match, which he is about to enter as just another feather in his cap but there is no doubt it will make him filled with immense pride. 

It is been hard to play 100 Tests and for a small country like New Zealand even harder, most of the cricketers tend to break or get exhausted by the time they have reached 80 Tests. Sir Richard Hadlee (86) John Wright (82) Martin Crowe (77) also couldn’t be able to reach this magic number. It was only post-2000, New Zealand cricketers had started to achieve the milestone.

This why when Kane Williamson and Tim Southee will walk on the Hagley Oval to play the 2nd Test of the series against Australia, they will be celebrated by people across the world for a special hundred.

Early Life and Cricket

Born to Brett and Sara Williamson on the 8th of August, 1990 at Tauranga, Kane Stuart Williamson was among the five children of the couple. He received a perfect environment for sports at both home and school.

As a matter of fact, the society in which he lived had a number of other sporting families, which included Trent Boult and his childhood buddy Doug Bracewell.

It is here that Kane Williamson started playing cricket and his passion for the game increased manifold by the time he was in his teens.

But the thing that separated him from the other children was his desire to be better every time; his concentration was unflappable.

While it is not certain, it is said by his peers that he had almost scored 40 centuries by the time he left school.

In spite of this, Williamson doesn’t deem himself naturally talented, he said his success was the result of hours and hours of practice, isn’t it?

First Class Debut and Hundred on Test Baptism

Kane Williamson first played First class match in December 2007, which is when he was only 17 at the time. Three years later, he made his Test debut against India notching up a pretty special hundred at Motera, Ahmedabad.

It was evident that New Zealand had got something special. 

International Cricket Journey (2010-2024)

It didn’t take much time for Kane Williamson to become the team’s premier batsman. During the last 11 years (2013-2023), New Zealand had some special cricketers and these cricketers have ensured that the team earned remarkable success; Williamson has been the main architect of the achievements.  In his 99 Tests, he has scored 8675 runs, the most by any New Zealander; beyond this he has 32 hundred and 33 half-centuries, which is a testament of his impeccable concentration. His success is not limited only to one format; he has been as successful in ODI cricket and T20 as well.

Style of Play

Kane Williamson bats at #3 for his team, a position that is generally avoided by famous batsmen.

With bat in the air, elbow as high as it can be, eyes on the target, putting a full face of the bat, on the ball, with rhythmic footwork, and minimum fuss, and guess what he can repeat it for hours and hours. Beyond his sound technique, his ability to use the crease and play the ball late makes him a difficult batsman to bowl at. His calm demeanour, strong temperament and willingness to take any challenge make him one of the best of his generation. 

A great batsman and a fine leader

The BlackCaps may have produced many fine batsmen, but none of them match the excellence of Williamson, there may be varied reasons but the runs that the star batsman has scored and with consistency make him the greatest batsman ever produced by New Zealand. He stands at #1 in Test runs, centuries, and average, and by the time he ends his career, he might have played the most Tests by a New Zealander and could be the first kiwi to reach the Mount Everest of 10,000 Test runs.

In ODI’s, he is fifth highest run accumulator for the country (165 matches and 6810 runs with 13 hundred) while in T20 he is only behind (89 matches 2547 runs) Martin Guptill (3531 runs in 122 matches)

Kane has been a fantastic leader, his records and success speaks for him. He has captained New Zealand in 40 Tests (second most) and has 22 wins to his name.

With a 55% success rate, he is the BlackCaps’s most successful captain. He has led New Zealand to three finals (2019 World Cup, 2021 T20 World Cup, and 2021 Test World Championship) in which he led New Zealand crowned as World Champions for the 2021 World Test Championship, also billed as Test World Cup. No easy feat.

He is also the second-most successful captain in ODI Cricket and the most successful in T20 Internationals. 

What future holds?  

Kane Williamson has been around for such a long period (13 years) that it is hard to believe that he is still 33, he has around three to four years in him but then you wouldn’t bet on it with a series of injuries and a brittle knee; you fear it might be anytime he can pull down curtains on his illustrious career. However exiting the captaincy and managing work load effectively off late, seems to have got the right balance.

One can expect him to reach 10,000 Test runs; it would be glorious for New Zealand cricket for no Kiwi has hitherto achieved the feat.  

There is one thing for sure by the time he leaves cricket; he will write milestones and scale greatness that it would be very difficult if not impossible for another New Zealander to match.

Until then, let us sit back and enjoy Kane’s artistic majesty.

Image source– Twitter/X