Kane Williamson. 6 of the Best
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So farewell then Kane Williamwson. The strangest retirement announcement of them all. But time to remember, in no particular order, of his bast test knocks.
132
Then this was this innings in the Greatest test of all time TM. He had failed twice in the previous test at the Mount, and then again in the first innings at the Basin. Mumbles were to follow, but he went out and played a match winning knock*. Harry Brook’s only test wicket.
*Blundell should have been Man of the Match.
102*
South Africa 2012 Basin Reserve
Following the century on debut things were a bit grim for Williamson. Maybe he needed a bit of physical pain to get him going again. Hit in the nuts three times by Dale Steyn he batted through the fifth day to ensure a draw. After a tricky second album of a season he’d made it.
Batting out the final day when squeezed in the nuts three times isn’t easy. It was cold too.
And a post career business.
131
On debut
IND vs NZ Cricket Scorecard, 1st Test at Ahmedabad, November 04 – 08, 2010
An amazing test really. He shared a debut test with Hamish Bennet. And a test that featured Sachin Tendulkar who played in the 1980s.
A Jessie Ryder century, a brief hope of victory, 6 overs from McCullum, and Ross Taylor’s best ever bowling figures.
And a debut batting at number 6.
52*
World Test Championship Final 2021
OK, so maybe in isolation not his greatest innings, but one he will always be remembered for.
This was a gritty affair played over six rain interrupted days. He came to the crease at 44/2 under sultry skies and guided NZ to the win with time pressure around, And he did it with Ross Taylor at the other end.
If there is ever to be a statue to commemorate his career that’s it.
140
There is a lazy theory going on that whenever New Zealand tours Australia the shit the bed. Sure, they did in 2019/20 but in the previous tour they were competitive. And Williamson led that. In the test that followed he played the support act to Taylor’s 290, but in the previous test he showed his class.
140 in a total of 317 proved that he was playing at a different level. And, typically at a higher Strike Rate that seemed plausible.
That was peak Kane Williamson.
242*
NZ vs SL Cricket Scorecard, 2nd Test at Wellington, January 03 – 07, 2015
The previous year McCullum and Watling made a record 6th wicket stand which led to a plaque in front of the bank. The next season Williamson joined Watling to better that.
New Zealand had been outplayed early on in that match; they joined each other when NZ was 5 down in their second innings when 30 or so runs ahead.
But Williamson took control and somehow it turned into an easy win. And he didn’t get a chance to reach 300.
A great innings but possibly not the best 200 in that match.