Tag: Kane Williamson

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson will remain out of the side for their second match in ICC World Cup 2023 against the Netherlands on October 9.

New Zealand head coach Gary Stead confirmed his absence from the game against Netherlands while giving an update about his recovery and status for future games.

“Kane’s also been progressing very well. I think the fielding is still the element for him that he’s just got to get a little bit higher and get a little more trust in his body,” said Stead.

He, however, hinted that Williamson is likely to achieve full fitness in time for New Zealand’s third game, which is against Bangladesh on October 13 in Chennai.

“But he is progressing really well and we are pretty confident he will be playing the third match for us,” he added. “We have got another training to get through today so we will finalise the team once we have got through that training.”

Kane Williamson tore the cruciate ligament in his right knee playing for Indian Premier League side Gujarat Titans in April, which looked to have scuppered his chances of making the showpiece tournament.

However, he made it to New Zealand’s squad for the ICC World Cup 2023 and participated in New Zealand’s warm-up games against Pakistan and South Africa, scoring 54 and 37 respectively.

He missed New Zealand’s thumping nine-wicket win over defending champions England in the opening game of the ICC World Cup 2023, courtesy of Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra’s dominant centuries.

New Zealand pace duo Tim Southee and Lockie Ferguson also missed the first game due to injuries, however, Gary Stead is hopeful that the pace duo is likely to recover for the game against Netherlands.

“Lockie Ferguson got through training really well so providing he is scrubbed up okay this morning, he will be available for this next game,” Stead said. “Tim Southee also got through the training really well. It was great to see him back at the bowling crease and also doing a little bit of fielding as well.”

“He will just get a final x-ray done this morning and we will make a call after that but it is all looking good for selection from now on and into the rest of the tournament,” he concluded.

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New Zealand captain Kane Williamson is set to miss the curtain-raiser of the ICC World Cup 2023 against England in Ahmedabad on October 5 owing to a recovering knee injury.

Williamson will play as a specialist batter in New Zealand’s first warm-up match against Pakistan in Hyderabad. Though, he is expected to bat and field in the second warm-up game against South Africa in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday.

New Zealand head coach Gary Stead gave an update about Kane Williamson’s road to recovery.

“Right from the start we’ve taken a long-term view on Kane’s return to play,” New Zealand’s head coach Gary Stead said. “His recovery is tracking well and it’s now a matter of making sure he can cope with the rigours and intensity of international cricket. We’ll continue to take a day by day approach to Kane’s rehabilitation and certainly won’t be putting any pressure on him to return before he is ready.”

The 33-year-old batter tore the cruciate ligament in his right knee playing for Indian Premier League side Gujarat Titans in April, which looked to have scuppered his chances of making the showpiece tournament.

Wicketkeeper batter Tom Latham will lead New Zealand in two warm-up matches as well as the opening match against England.

New Zealand ICC World Cup 2023 squad

Kane Williamson (c), Trent Boult, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Will Young

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Less than six months after knee surgery threatened to rule him out of the ICC World Cup 2023, the goal of captaining New Zealand in India has been the key driver in getting Kane Williamson through his recovery.

The 33-year-old batter tore the cruciate ligament in his right knee playing for Indian Premier League side Gujarat Titans in April, which looked to have scuppered his chances of making the showpiece tournament.

However, intense rehab work has meant a speedy recovery.

Kane Williamson hopes to be ready for the Black Caps opening game against defending champions England on October 5, a repeat of the 2019 final his side narrowly lost.

“It would be great. Naturally, you want to be back playing when you are fit and ready, sooner rather than later,” he said.

“You hope that ends up being around that World Cup time, but I’m still being very focused on the rehab day-to-day and not wanting those targets to stretch it to a point where you take a backward step.”

Williamson is already batting in the nets again, which the injured knee can handle.

“For running, it’s not quite 100 percent, but making good progress,” he added.

Black Caps coach Gary Stead said there was no fixed date for when Williamson will play again.

But his return will be a big boost. He was the player of the 2019 tournament with centuries against South Africa and the West Indies in leading New Zealand to the cusp of lifting the trophy.

Williamson, who has chalked up over 6,500 runs in ODI cricket, is desperate to appear in a fourth World Cup, admitting the prospect “keeps you in the gym every day and working hard”.

“It’s been really pleasing to see the progress and keep taking those little steps forward,” he added.

While New Zealand have warmed up for the ICC World Cup 2023 with tours of England and Bangladesh, Kane Williamson’s injury has limited his preparations.

But he is not overly concerned.

“Naturally, it isn’t ideal, but I didn’t get too much of a say in it. It’s the only option I have in front of me and the prospect of playing another World Cup is really, really exciting,” he said.

“It’s something you always want to be a part of but I didn’t want that to dictate my rehab. At the same time, having a carrot at the back of your mind is helpful.”

Despite a burning desire to play, the New Zealand skipper said he would have no problem withdrawing from the squad if the injury flared up.

“I only want to be there if I can add some value and I’m fit and ready to go,” he said,

Kane Williamson already knows about spending time on the sidelines after returning last year from a lengthy spell out with an elbow injury.

“Working through injuries are part of the job, so being ready for whatever’s next is the goal,” he said.

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Pakistan captain Babar Azam has sent well wishes for the quick recovery of New Zealand ODI skipper Kane Williamson after he injured his knee during an IPL match last week. 

“Bounce back stronger. Get well soon Kane Williamson,” wrote Babar in a Twitter post n which he also shared an on-field photo with his New Zealand counterpart.

Bounce back stronger. Get well soon Kane Williamson pic.twitter.com/XSkMa70qXO

— Babar Azam (@babarazam258) April 6, 2023

Due to the injury, the Black Caps captain is likely to miss the ICC Cricket World Cup in India later this year as he will undergo knee surgery within the next three weeks after he was found to rupture the anterior cruciate ligament of his right knee.

Typically, the injury takes around six-month rehabilitation, which means the BlackCaps captain will be in a tight spot ahead of the megaevent in terms of proving his fitness.

“Naturally it’s disappointing to get such an injury, but my focus now is on having the surgery and starting rehab,” he said.

“It’s going to take some time, but I’ll be doing everything I can to get back on the field as soon as possible.”

Williamson had landed awkwardly in the opening match of the Indian Premier League between Gujrat Titans and Chennai Super Kings. The injury ruled him out of Gujrat Titans for the entire IPL season this year.

However, the 32-year-old’s absence would be a major blow for his national side. The right-hander has scored more than 6000 ODI runs at an average of 47.83 in 161 ODI matches.

Under his captaincy, New Zealand finished as runner-up in the last edition of the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup in 2019. They lost to England in the epic final that went down to Super Over with the host eventually lifting the trophy on boundary count.

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WELLINGTON: Aggressive double centuries for Kane Williamson and Henry Nicholls powered New Zealand’s dominance in the second Test against Sri Lanka on Saturday.

The Black Caps declared their first innings at an imposing 580-4 before reducing Sri Lanka to 26-2 at stumps on day two, leaving the tourists with a very slim prospect of squaring the two-match series.

The in-form Williamson scored 215 and Nicholls posted a career-best 200 not out, with the pair’s third-wicket stand of 363 virtually batting Sri Lanka out of the contest.

Their partnership was the fifth-highest by any New Zealand combination and they became the country’s first batters to reach 200 in the same innings.

Sri Lankan captain Dimuth Karunaratne will resume on 16 on Sunday and nightwatchman Prabath Jayasuriya remains on four, with the deficit a daunting 554 runs.

Sri Lanka’s bowlers struggled to generate life on a flat Basin Reserve pitch, forcing Karunaratne to set defensive fields during much of the mammoth partnership.

Williamson and Nicholls batted at a lively clip from the outset, advancing quickly from a 155-2 overnight score and barely looking troubled as they unleashed an array of attacking strokes through the first two sessions.

Williamson was impenetrable as he reached three figures for the third time in successive Tests, becoming the first New Zealander to pass 8,000 runs in the process.

It was a sixth double-century for the 32-year-old — whose unbeaten 121 was pivotal in a final-ball first Test in Christchurch earlier this week.

Having resumed on 26, Williamson struck 23 fours and two sixes before holing out in the deep off spinner Jayasuriya as he tried to escalate the scoring rate.

Nicholls marched on from his overnight 18 to reach three figures before pushing past his previous-best score of 174.

His aggressive 240-ball knock, which featured four sixes, represented a remarkable return to form for the left-hander, whose place in the team was under pressure after failing to reach 40 in his 15 previous innings.

Nicholls said he was aware of criticism of his ongoing selection but said he was made to feel comfortable by support from his teammates and coach Gary Stead.

“Everyone in the group’s been great and you really feel that support,” he said.

“For me, it was just about trusting that I had done it before. It hasn’t happened as much as I’d like in the last period.

“Now the challenge is doing it again knowing that the blueprint is there.”

Nicholls compared the partnership with a 369-run stand with Williamson against Pakistan in Christchurch two years ago.

“The way Kane’s playing, he’s in a real zone out there. It was nice to make that partnership into another really big one.”

Kasun Rajitha, who was off the field for a period nursing a shoulder injury, lodged the best bowling figures of 2-126.

Sri Lanka spinner Dhananjaya de Silva said the tourists were guilty of allowing the double centurions too much leeway.

“Obviously Kane and Henry batted very well. We have to be at our best when we’re facing these players but we missed our lengths,” he said.

De Silva said Sri Lanka hadn’t given up on squaring the series although he conceded it will be very difficult to force a victory.

“We’re not playing for a draw, we’re playing for a win.

“So we have to bat for at least one and a half days. We’ll see what will happen,” he said.

Their response began poorly.

Matt Henry removed opener Oshada Fernando for six before fellow-seamer Doug Bracewell dismissed Kusal Mendis without scoring via a spectacular catch at point from Devon Conway.

It came from Bracewell’s third ball of the match in what is his first Test appearance for more than six years.

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WELLINGTON: Kane Williamson called it “special” after surpassing Ross Taylor on Monday to become New Zealand’s highest Test run-scorer.

Williamson’s century steered New Zealand to 483 all out in their second innings and set England a target of 258 runs to win the second Test in Wellington.

The 32-year-old former captain earned two standing ovations at the Basin Reserve during a superb innings which brought up his 26th Test century.

He raised his bat fleetingly after reaching 29 not out early on Monday to pass Taylor’s record of 7,683 runs.

Williamson left the field to more applause when he fell for 132 to part-time seam bowler Harry Brook.

Williamson was typically modest about his place in the history books.

“It’s not something I have thought a whole lot about but it’s an honour if you look at the names on that list,” he said.

“I admired a lot of them growing up, then played alongside some of them, but it’s special to be in that company.”

Stephen Fleming, also a former Black Caps captain, sits third on 7,172 runs.

Williamson reached the milestone in his 92nd Test and 161st innings, considerably quicker than Taylor’s 112 Tests and 196 visits to the crease.

Now-retired Taylor was quick to compliment Williamson.

“Congratulations, Kane,” Taylor posted on Twitter. “This achievement is a testament to your hard work and dedication to Test cricket, of which I was privy to for a number of years.”

Williamson, a right-handed batsman, started the two-match England series needing only 39 runs to clinch the record.

But he totalled only 10 runs through his first three innings, forming part of a New Zealand top order that struggled against the English seam attack.

He sits 35th on the all-time Test leaderboard, which is topped by Indian great Sachin Tendulkar with 15,921 runs.

READ: New Zealand set England 258 to win second Test after Williamson century

WELLINGTON: Record-breaker Kane Williamson stroked a superb century Monday to steer New Zealand to 483 all out in their second innings and set England a target of 258 runs to win the second Test in Wellington.

Former captain Williamson hit 132 and Tom Blundell was last man out for 90 as the hosts fought back after being asked to follow on at the Basin Reserve.

England were 48-1 in their second innings at stumps after opener Zak Crawley, on 24, was bowled by a delivery that nipped back from New Zealand skipper Tim Southee.

Ben Duckett was unbeaten on 23 and nightwatchman Ollie Robinson on one, leaving England needing 210 more runs on Tuesday’s final day for a 2-0 series sweep.

The tourists won the first Test by 267 runs.

“We’re excited about chasing that (target) down tomorrow,” said England spinner Jack Leach, who took 5-157.

“We know how we want to go about it and it’s a case of us sticking to that process. We’re confident.”

New Zealand need nine wickets to pull off only the fourth victory by a side following on in the history of Test cricket and square the two-match series.

“It would be pretty special,” Williamson said of New Zealand’s historic bid.

“It’s pretty exciting going into day five and we want to make sure our bowling is on. 0There’s all to play for.”

‘Immaculate’

The hosts resumed their second innings on Monday at 202-3, still trailing by 24, but Williamson led the charge with his 26th Test century.

It fell to England’s new batting star and part-time seam bowler Harry Brook to claim Williamson’s prized wicket.

After grinding down England’s bowlers, Williamson was finally caught down the leg side by wicketkeeper Ben Foakes off a fine edge after a sixth-wicket partnership of 158 with Blundell.

Williamson trudged off to hearty applause from the Wellington crowd after dragging New Zealand back into the match.

It was his second standing ovation of the day, having eclipsed Ross Taylor in the morning session to become New Zealand’s most prolific Test batsman with 7,787 runs.

His partnership with Blundell helped New Zealand fight back after England declared their first innings at 435-8 then scuttled New Zealand for 209, before inviting the hosts to bat again.

New Zealand can join an elite club if they win — only England, twice, and India have won a Test after following on.

Williamson, who survived a close shout for a stumping when on 45, handed his side a fighting chance after frustrating England alongside Blundell, with support from Henry Nicholls and Daryl Mitchell before lunch.

Blundell hit Stuart Broad to the boundary as New Zealand passed 400, then Williamson also smacked England’s seamer for four to bring up his hundred — his first since scoring two tons against Pakistan in December 2022.

New Zealand folded quickly once Williamson departed and he was full of praise for Brook’s bowling.

“He didn’t miss his length, he was immaculate. He’s a special player,” Williamson said.

With the former captain gone, Michael Bracewell went in sloppy fashion, run out for six as he inexplicably failed to ground his bat.

Foakes whipped off the bails from Ben Stokes’ laser throw in the deep when Bracewell should have been home comfortably.

New Zealand lost their last four wickets for just five runs, Blundell last out when he edged Leach to Joe Root at slip going for a big hit.

KARACHI: New Zealand captain Kane Williamson was pleased by his side’s historic ODI series triumph over Pakistan after Glenn Phillips’ scintillating knock powered them sailing through in the third and final ODI here on Friday.

Williamson talked to the media at the post-match press conference, commented on his team’s first ODI series victory in Pakistan and was pleased with the outcome.

“There are a number of unknowns when you arrive and you haven’t played in Pakistan before and so we tried to access that and tried to get some game plans together which varied throughout the series which I think, is just the characteristic of the international game when you play in different countries and it was very pleasing for us as a team to be able to do that,” said Williamson.

“Not just the conditions in general but I think from game to game they did change when we saw around you know a lot of different pep threats with the ball at different stages and tryna work out ways to score.

“There are a lot of positives but also a number of things to touch on and keep working on it as a side to keep moving forward.”

The New Zealand skipper also termed the conditions on offer in the ODIs very competitive with a nice balance between bat and ball.

“I think there have been very competitive pitches, been a nice balance between bat and ball. We’ve seen some that spun a lot and some that haven’t. But, you know as a side you just try to adjust to being effective with the bat and the ball,” Williamson stated.

“It was almost reflective of tournament cricket really when you play at multiple venues although we’ve only been here in Karachi we’ve seen a variety of conditions and I think the time of year has probably to do with that.

“So to come here and play well as a unit throughout the series and getting a series win is a very good effort by the team and another great opportunity to take a lot of learnings from it as well,” he maintained.

It is apropos to mention that Phillips’ brisk 66-run match-winning knock in the third and final ODI powered New Zealand to their first series triumph over Pakistan in their backyard.

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KINGSTON: Kane Williamson shone with a solid 47-run knock on his return as Black Caps captain with Jimmy Neesham blasting 33 off 15 down the order while Mitchell Santner bagged three wickets to aid New Zealand edge past West Indies by 13 runs in the opening encounter of three-match T20I series, here on Wednesday.

Set to chase a respectable target of 186, West Indies’ top-order put up a dismal show losing four wickets for 49 in the 7th over. A resounding knock of 42 off 43 by opener Shamarh Brooks and late retaliation by the lower order proved insignificant for the Windies to get past the finishing line.

All-rounder Jason Holder and Rovman Powell scored 25 off 19 and 18 off 12 respectively, before Romario Shepherd (31*) and Odean Smith (27*) combined excellently and entertained the crowd till the bast with their powerful hits.

New Zealand, however, restricted the West Indies on 172/7 in their 20 overs on the back of phenomenal figures of 3/19 by left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner while Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi and Lockie Ferguson claimed a wicket each.

Earlier after being put to bat, Black Caps went for a solid start with a 62-run opening stand by Martin Guptill (!6) and Devon Conway (43) before right-arm pacer Smith struck twice in the eighth over to get rid of both the openers.

Skipper Williamson then led the charge for Kiwis before Neesham played a late cameo laced with three fours and two sixes to reach the comprehensive total of 185/5 in the first innings.

For West Indies, Odean Smith remained the topped the bowling sheet with his 3/32 while Holder and Obed McCoy took wicket apiece.

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LEEDS: New Zealand opener Tom Latham and skipper Kane Williamson starred with the bat before England bowlers shook the middle order to restrict the Kiwis to 168 for the loss of five wickets on the third day of the Leeds Test.

England resumed the proceeding of the third day with an edge over opponents as Jonny Bairstow and debutant Jamie Overton had thrashed the Kiwi bowlers a day earlier but the Kiwis managed to bundle the hosts out on 360 in the first session.

Kiwi pacer Trent Boult upset all-rounder Overton depriving him of his maiden Test hundred as he walked back to the pavilion on 97. Stuart Broad and Bairstow continued to dominate the Kiwi bolwers and combined excellently for 55 runs before Broad was bowled out by Boult on 42.

Last match’s hero for England, Bairstow continued with his sublime form as he topped the scorecard for his side. He blasted 167 runs with an impressive strike rate of above 100, laced with 24 boundaries.

Boult starred with the bowl for his side, grabbing four crucial wickets followed by Tim Southee, who bagged three wickets. Neil Wagner took two while Michael Bracewell made one scalp.

New Zealand, on the other hand, raised a solid start to their second inning as the pair of  Latham and Williamson put England bowlers at unease. The duo put up a strong partnership of 97 runs after their side lost its first wicket on 28.

Debutant Overton was able to derail the partnership as he dismissed Latham on 72, openings the flood gates for the Kiwis. England bowlers dominated the final session as they stormed through New Zealand’s middle order and took four back-to-back wickets to tighten their grip on the match.

Skipper Williamson, who missed the last match after testing positive for Covid-19, failed to take complete advantage after he gained the momentum. He was dismissed by Mathew Pope, two runs short of a half-century.

For England, Potts grabbed two wickets with Jack Leech, Overton and part-timer Joe root making one scalp each.

New Zealand will resume the play on the fourth from 168/5 with all-rounder Dary Mitchell and wicket-keeper Tom Blundell on the crease.

It is worth mentioning here that England have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match Test series against New Zealand.

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