Tag: Kane Williamson

Former New Zealand captain Kane Williamson has recently commented on the ongoing criticism surrounding the strike rates of Pakistan’s top-order batters, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, particularly in T20 cricket.

Both Babar and Rizwan have often come under scrutiny for their relatively low strike rates during the early stages of their innings.

However, Williamson, known for his calm and measured approach to batting, offered a balanced perspective on the issue, stressing the importance of understanding one’s role within the team.

In an exclusive interview with a local sports outlet, Williamson explained that T20 cricket is all about adapting to what the team needs to win, rather than focusing solely on personal strike rates.

Catch all the PSL 10 updates here!

“It’s all about what the team requires and trying to win games for your team,” he said.

Drawing from his own experiences in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), where team strategies and pitch conditions can vary significantly, Kane Williamson highlighted the adaptability needed in T20 cricket.

“As we’ve seen in the PSL, we’ve seen scores of 230, but we’ve also seen scores around 140 and 130. You have to be adaptable, and whoever you are, your role for the team is to contribute to the best performance possible,” he added.

“Sometimes it’s about scoring quickly, and other times it’s about steady accumulation — as long as it’s aimed at helping your team win.”

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The Kiwi batter also praised Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam, expressing his admiration for the elegant right-hander.

“I’ve only been here for a couple of days, so I’m still enjoying watching everybody play. But having faced Pakistan frequently over the years, I’ve always enjoyed watching Babar bat,” Williamson said.

“He’s an amazing player, and a beautiful player to watch,” he continued. “He’s one that I’ve always enjoyed,” Williamson added, highlighting the respect he has for Babar’s technical skills and overall composure at the crease.

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Former New Zealand captain and Karachi Kings player Kane Williamson has shared his thoughts on the Pakistani pacers who have impressed him the most in recent years.

While speaking during a recent interview with a sports platform, Williamson praised Pakistani pacers Haris Rauf and Shaheen Afridi, acknowledging the country’s depth in fast bowlers.

“Pakistan has always had great depth in fast bowlers, which has been a strength of their cricket. There are many threats,” he said.

“Shaheen has been incredible, especially with the new ball. Then there’s Haris Rauf, who’s been a fantastic performer for Pakistan for a long time. These two bowlers have done really well,” he added.

Kane Williamson praised Pakistan’s ace batter Babar Azam, stating that he has always enjoyed watching him play.

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“I’ve only been here for a couple of days, so I’m still enjoying watching everybody play. But having faced Pakistan frequently over the years, I’ve always enjoyed watching Babar bat.”

“He’s an amazing player, and a beautiful player to watch,” Williamson said. “He’s one that I’ve always enjoyed,” he remarked.

The 34-year-old shed light on the ongoing criticism of Pakistan’s Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan’s strike rates in T20 cricket, emphasizing the team’s requirements in different situations.

“It’s all about what the team requires and trying to win games for your team,” he explained.

Catch all the PSL 10 updates here!

The right-handed batter emphasized the need for adaptability, mentioning that there had been both high and low scores in the PSL.

“As we’ve seen in the PSL, there have been scores of 230, but we’ve also seen scores around 140 and 130. You have to be adaptable, and ultimately, it’s about your role in the team that contributes to its best performance.”

“Whether it’s scoring quickly on some days or playing more conservatively, as long as it’s geared towards winning games for your side, that’s what’s important,” Kane Williamson concluded.

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Former New Zealand captain Kane Williamson arrived in Lahore on Thursday to join the Karachi Kings squad for the ongoing season 10 of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

The veteran batter, who was picked by Karachi Kings in the supplementary category during the PSL 10 players draft, joined the squad at the team hotel upon arrival in the city.

Catch all the PSL 10 updates here!

He will participate in the training session later today at the Lahore City Cricket Association (LCCA) ground to prepare for the upcoming match against the Quetta Gladiators, scheduled for Friday.

After the Gladiators match, the Karachi Kings will play against the Multan Sultans on May 1.

They will then face their arch-rivals, the Lahore Qalandars, on May 4, followed by a clash with Peshawar Zalmi on May 8.

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The group stage campaign will conclude with a match against the defending champions, Islamabad United, on May 10.

It’s worth noting that Karachi Kings, under the leadership of David Warner, have won three out of their five games in the PSL 10 so far.

Karachi Kings squad for PSL 10

David Warner (captain), Abbas Afridi, Adam Milne, James Vince, Hasan Ali, Khushdil Shah, Shan Masood, Mohammad Irfan Khan, Aamir Jamal, Arafat Minhas, Tim Seifert, Zahid Mahmood, Mir Hamza, Fawad Ali, Riazullah, Omair Bin Yousuf, Kane Williamson, Mohammad Nabi, Saad Baig, Ben McDermott and Mirza Mamoon.

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New Zealand star batter Kane Williamson has offered his take on the future of world batting, naming contenders for the next ‘Fab Five,’ featuring two batters from India.

The New Zealand skipper, who himself has long been part of the iconic ‘Fab Four’ alongside India’s Virat Kohli, Australia’s Steve Smith and England’s Joe Root, was recently asked to predict who could form the next such elite club.

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While the question was about naming four batters, Williamson decided to go one better, naming five.

“The five players that come to mind would be Yashasvi Jaiswal (India), Shubman Gill (India), Rachin Ravindra (New Zealand), Harry Brook (England) and Cameron Green from Australia,” Kane Williamson was quoted as saying by an Indian news website.

Catch all the PSL 10 updates here!

The inclusion of Jaiswal and Gill, two young Indian top-order batters, doesn’t come as a surprise. Both have shown a maturity beyond their years in international cricket.

Then there’s Rachin Ravindra, the Kiwi all-rounder who made global headlines with his exploits in the ICC World Cup 2023.

From England and Australia, Harry Brook and Cameron Green round out the five, both players possessing the kind of raw ability and mental toughness that modern cricket demands.

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New Zealand star batter Kane Williamson etched his name in the record books as he left India’s Virat Kohli behind to become the second-fastest men’s cricketer to reach 7,000 ODI runs.

Williamson’s record-breaking moment came during the tri-nation series clash against South Africa at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore yesterday, where he delivered a match-winning masterclass, scoring an unbeaten 133.

His knock not only guided New Zealand to a convincing six-wicket victory but also secured their place in the final.

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The former Kiwi skipper completed his 7,000 runs in just 159 innings, two fewer than Kohli, who took 161 innings to achieve the feat.

It’s worth noting that the record for the fastest to 7,000 ODI runs still belongs to South Africa’s legendary Hashim Amla, who got there in just 150 innings.

Fastest to 7,000 Runs in Men’s ODI Cricket

• Hashim Amla – 150 innings
• Kane Williamson – 159 innings
• Virat Kohli – 161 innings

New Zealand’s successful chase of 305 was the third-highest in Lahore, finishing the job with eight balls to spare. Williamson, alongside Devon Conway (97 off 107), stitched together a record 187-run stand for the second wicket—the highest-ever between New Zealand and South Africa in ODIs.

This was Williamson’s first century in ODIs since the 2019 World Cup and his second-fastest, coming off just 72 balls.

READ: Former Pakistan captain demands Shaheen Afridi’s removal from squad

LAHORE: New Zealand star batter Kane Williamson praised Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam, placing him among the best batters in the world after the tri-nation ODI series clash against South Africa here at Gaddafi Stadium on Monday.

Babar has been the mainstay of the Pakistan team for several years, consistently performing with his bat. However, in recent times, he has faced a dip in form, struggling to find his rhythm and deliver the kind of performance he is known for.

While addressing the media after his blazing century, Williamson hailed Azam’s class and placed him in the elites of the game.

“The ‘Fab Four’ or ‘Fab Five’ consists of some of the best players in the world, and Babar Azam is certainly one of them. He is a world-class batter who consistently delivers for his team,” said Williamson.

The former skipper also spoke about his experience in Pakistan, saying that he was delighted with the warm welcome and the passionate Lahore crowd.

He also praised his team’s performance in the ongoing tri-nation ODI series emphasizing that the New Zealand team played as a unit and handled pressure very well.

“Our team worked hard and due to this, we got good results. Devon Conway played brilliantly and the South Africa team was equally competitive and performed well in the match,” remarked the former captain.

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Kane Williamson further talked about the pitch conditions and mentioned that as the day progressed, batting became easier.

“As the evening progressed, batting became easier, and we adapted well to the situation,” said Williamson.

Furthermore, he shared positive news about Rachin Ravindra’s fitness; Ravindra took a blow to the head while fielding during the first match of the series against Pakistan.

“I am not sure if Rachin Ravindra will play in the final, but he is recovering well and is in good health,” he said.

For the unversed, the Kiwi batter smashed an unbeaten 133 runs against South Africa in the second match of the tri-nation series, leading his team into the final.

The Blackcaps comprehensively chased the 305-run target on the loss of four wickets and eight balls remaining courtesy of 187 run stand between Devon Conway and Williamson.

Kane Williamson’s knock included 13 fours and two sixes. This was also the stalwart’s first ODI hundred since the 2019 World Cup when he hit 148 against the West Indies at Manchester.

READ: Tri-nation series: Kane Williamson’s blazing century propels New Zealand into final

LAHORE: Star batter Kane Williamson blazing century pips Breetzke’s record debut ton as New Zealand beat South Africa by 6 wickets to book a spot in the tri-nation ODI series final here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Monday.

The Blackcaps comprehensively chased the 305-run target on the loss of four wickets and eight balls remaining courtesy of 187 run stand between Devon Conway and Williamson.

New Zealand were off to a good start with their new opening pair Will Young and Conway adding 50 runs for the first wicket.

Young was out in the last over of the powerplay, scoring 19 runs off 31 balls.

After the first wicket, Williamson and Devon Conway kept South Africa’s bowlers at bay and formed a mammoth stand.

Conway departed in the nervous nineties off Junior Dala. His valiant knock of 97 on 107 balls included nine fours and one six.

After Devon Conway’s departure, South Africa was back in the game with two quick wickets of successive deliveries. Daryl Mitchell (10) and Tom Latham (0) were trapped by debutant Senuran Muthusamy’s spin bowling.

But Williamson stood firm at the other end and scored his 14th ODI century on 72 deliveries. He along with some notable contributions from Glenn Phillips (28), ensured that New Zealand convincingly chased the big total.

Kane Williamson remained unbeaten at the end of the chase. His marathon knock off 133 runs off 113 balls including 13 fours and two sixes.

This was also the stalwart’s first ODI hundred since the 2019 World Cup when he hit 148 against the West Indies at Manchester.

Earlier, South Africa posted 304-6 in their 50 overs after being invited to bat first, with Breetzke scoring 150 runs in his first One Day International match for the Proteas.

Breetzke also broke the record for the highest score in debut innings. His 150 is now the highest score ever by a debutant in ODIs.

New Zealand made their first breakthrough in the seventh over when Will O’Rourke dismissed the South African skipper Temba Bavuma on 20 runs.

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Following the wicket, Jason Smith and Breetzke added 93 for the second wicket. Smith perished, run out on 41 with his innings including two sixes and one four. Soon after, wicket-keeper batter Kyle Verreynne departed for one run courtesy of good bowling from off-spinner Michael Bracewell.

However, it was the fourth-wicket partnership between Wiaan Mulder and Matthew Breetzke that drove South Africa into a commanding position. The duo added 131 runs for this wicket.

The debutant departed on 150 runs after playing a brilliant knock which included five sixes and 11 fours while on the other end, Mulder stood firm and amassed 64 runs on 60 balls.

Wiaan Mulder hit five fours and one six in his innings.

Matt Henry and Will O’Rourke bagged two wickets apiece in their ten overs while Bracewell also chipped in with one wicket.

South Africa named four debutants in their playing eleven against New Zealand as their premier players were involved in a T20 League back home.

New Zealand brought in opener Devon Conway for Rachin Ravindra, who took a blow to his head during the fielding in the tri-nation series opening match against Pakistan.

Playing XIs

South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), Matthew Breetzke, Jason Smith, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Wiaan Mulder, Mihlali Mpongwana, Senuran Muthusamy, Eathan Bosch, Junior Dala, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi.

New Zealand: Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Ben Sears, Matt Henry and Will O’Rourke.

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Kane Williamson has made history by becoming the first batter from New Zealand to score 9,000 runs in Test cricket. Moreover, he reached this milestone faster than some of the greatest Test batters, including Younis Khan and Virat Kohli.

Williamson achieved the historic milestone during the second innings of the ongoing first Test of the Crowe-Thorpe Trophy against England in Christchurch. The former New Zealand captain played a gutsy 61-run knock before he fell prey to Chris Woakes on Day 3.

He took 182 innings to reach the milestone, becoming the eighth quickest to score 9000 runs in Test cricket.

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In doing so, he surpassed many greats of the game, including Younis Khan, who took 184 innings, while current batters Joe Root and Virat Kohli, reached the landmark in 196 and 197 innings respectively.

Steve Smith is the only active batter who scored 9000 runs in fewer innings than Williamson, reaching it in 174 innings. Meanwhile, legendary Sri Lankan batter Kumar Sangakkara holds the record for being the fastest to the milestone with 172 innings.

It’s worth noting that Kane Williamson is New Zealand’s highest run-scorer of all-time, followed by Ross Taylor, who scored 7683 runs.

Fastest to 9000 runs in Test cricket

• Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) — 172
• Steve Smith (Australia) — 174
• Rahul Dravid (India) — 176
• Brian Lara (West Indies) — 177
• Ricky Ponting (Australia) — 177
• Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka) — 178
• Sachin Tendulkar (India) — 179
• Kane Williamson (New Zealand) — 182

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England captured the vital wicket of Kane Williamson for 93 in a dramatic five-wicket final session to leave New Zealand 319-8 after day one of the first Test of the Crowe-Thorpe Trophy in Christchurch on Thursday.

The hosts went to tea at a healthy 193-3 and slumped to 252-7 before Glenn Phillips (41 not out) and Matt Henry (18) halted the collapse with a spirited 46-run stand for the eighth wicket.

Shoaib Bashir, the only specialist spinner in the Test, was England’s chief destroyer with 4-69.

“It’s a good, fair surface,” Williamson said. “On a surface like that you ride a bit of luck and I played and missed a bit, that’s just the nature of the beast.”

The 21-year-old Bashir did not expect to be bowling on day one and was surprised to find himself facing Williamson, New Zealand’s greatest Test run-scorer.

“Obviously he’s a world-class player and for me, bowling to someone like him, I was just in awe watching Kane Williamson bat,” Bashir said.

“I bowled plenty of bad balls out there but I was still kept on and that shows how much faith they (management) have in me.”

Former skipper Kane Williamson looked on track to put New Zealand into a dominant position after joining Tom Latham in the middle when they lost opener Devon Conway in the second over.

He faced 14 deliveries before getting off the mark and went on to anchor 50-run partnerships with Latham, Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell.

Williamson was instrumental in getting them to 227-4 before he was undone attempting a cut shot that went to Zac Crawley at point to give Gus Atkinson his second wicket.

England had started the Test with a roar, winning the toss and inviting New Zealand to bat on a green top, having Atkinson remove Conway almost immediately.

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But for the rest of the first two sessions, the composed Williamson swung the momentum back to New Zealand.

He was unfazed when twice struck on the helmet by Brydon Carse and survived a vociferous appeal on 51 for caught behind when replays showed the ball hit the thigh pad and not the bat.

Williamson, who hit 10 fours, faced 197 deliveries in 274 minutes with temperatures hovering around 30 Celsius before being dismissed in the 90s for the first time in six years.

In Williamson’s previous 13 innings where he scored at least 90, the prolific batsman had gone on to register eight hundred and five double centuries.

With moisture in the ground causing the England bowlers some early problems with their delivery stride, Latham punished every loose ball that came along.

But he had a lapse of concentration in the first over after the morning drinks break and he was caught behind off Carse for 47.

Ravindra took on the aggressor role as he and Williamson added 68 for the third wicket before Ravindra clumsily mis-hit a loose full toss from Bashir and was gone for 34.

Mitchell accompanied Williamson through to tea but went for 19 in the second over after play resumed.

The wickets of Williamson, Tom Blundell (17) and debutant Nathan Smith (three) quickly followed as New Zealand slumped to 252-7.

Henry added a brisk 18, leaving Phillips and Tim Southee (10) to see out the day.

England debutant, 21-year-old Jacob Bethell, bowled one over of left-arm spin with his first Test delivery dispatched to the boundary by former New Zealand captain Williamson.

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Prolific New Zealand batter Kane Williamson has been included in the Test squad to face England after missing their recent 3-0 sweep in India with a groin injury.

The former skipper will once again team up with veteran seamer Tim Southee, who will retire from Test cricket after the three series starting in Christchurch on November 28.

Williamson has scored 8881 runs from 102 matches, the most by any batter from New Zealand, at an average of 54.48.

The Black Caps called up bowling all-rounder Nathan Smith for the first time while uncapped quick Jacob Duffy was also included in the squad.

But Ajaz Patel, who claimed 15 wickets against India, was surprisingly overlooked with Mitchell Santner the spin option, backed up by Glenn Phillips.

Meanwhile, Ben Sears and Kyle Jamieson were not considered owing to their knee and back injuries respectively.

“It’s obviously a big series for the side in terms of the World Test Championship [WTC] and to also now be farewelling someone like Tim Southee only raises it up further,” said Black Caps selector Sam Wells.

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The triumph in India propelled New Zealand back into contention for next year’s World Test Championship final, but even a whitewash of England would not guarantee it.

Ben Stokes’ England suffered a 2-1 defeat in Pakistan last month.

“It’s also an exciting time for Nathan to be brought into the Test squad for the first time,” added Wells.

“Nathan is an exciting talent with a proven first-class record and I’m sure he will bring a lot of skill and energy to the group.”

Wells admitted it was tough to leave out Patel, but the decision was made given the expected home conditions and Santner’s recent Test form.

The Black Caps are again led by Tom Latham, who took over from Southee last month and led them to what he called one of New Zealand’s “greatest series wins” in India.

Following the Christchurch Test, the series moves to Wellington and then Hamilton for Southee’s last hurrah.

New Zealand Test squad for England series

Tom Latham (capt), Tom Blundell, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Tim Southee, Kane Williamson, Will Young

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