When playing Test cricket, there is a lot of talk about former New Zealand captain Kane Williamson’s batting and how he compares to other players in Test cricket’s ‘Fab 4’. Players like Joe Root, Steve Smith and Virat Kohli are often compared to each other in terms of their performance with the bat in red-ball cricket.
However, Kane dismissed the comparison in a conversation ahead of his side’s one-off Test against Afghanistan at the Greater Noida Stadium in India, which is scheduled to begin on September 9.
Williamson praises Joe Root’s performances in Test cricket
The 34-year-old said he does not really pay attention to such comparisons and even praised his English counterpart Joe Root, who has been having a splendid period with the bat in Test cricket recently.
“You mentioned Joe Root, he’s been something different for a period of time, and obviously, there’s been a lot of talk about what he could achieve in a number of years, and it’s just amazing that you can have that conversation. So yeah, he’s been phenomenal, and obviously, I’m a big fan of his and I’ve enjoyed watching not only him, but those other guys you mentioned as well. Incredible players who have moved the game forward in a major way,” Williamson said of the ‘Fab Four’ comparisons.
New role for Kane Williamson
New Zealand return to India after a while, with Tim Southee leading the Test team. Former captain Kane has a different leadership role this time and is eager to grab the opportunity.
Kane’s record in India is not bad as the batsman scored 871 runs in 13 matches at an average of 37.86.
“I guess in the context of Tests, Tim has been captain for almost a couple of years now. But yeah, it’s a change. But at the same time, there’s still a role within the team, and it’s a leadership capacity. I really enjoy playing for New Zealand. So it’s another opportunity to come back here in India, even if I’m not playing against India, I’ll obviously be playing against Afghanistan,” Williamson said of playing a different role for New Zealand.
Asked how it feels to play back-to-back Test matches in the World Test Championship (WTC), Kane said: “In a way, it’s like a tournament sport, isn’t it? Even though it’s a longer period of time in the Test Championship, the value of the games is high. The context around Test cricket with the Test Championship is really key and it’s made for a lot of really exciting games. And so, naturally, having six Test matches together is a big part of our Test Championship schedule, and something we’re excited about. You know, such a volume of Test cricket that we don’t often get, and obviously, in this part of the world.”
Playing in unknown conditions
The Kiwis will be playing in unfamiliar conditions this time around, and with their last Test match having been played some time ago, Kane and his teammates will have to adapt as quickly as possible ahead of the match.
“No, I think it’s absolutely about trying to adjust your game because we’re not here consistently in this format, and there are quite long gaps where you don’t play here. So, you know, it’s about trying to get familiar with it again, and for us, our last Test match was 6 or 8 months ago or something like that. So, you know, as a team, it’s really about connecting with that again as a red-ball group and looking to apply our skills and plans as best we can. Obviously, it’s going to be different,” Williamson said.
“As there are not many Test matches here, the bowlers will certainly play a big role, as is often the case in this part of the world. So for us, it will be a matter of adapting as best we can,” he added.
New additions to the coaching staff
With players like Vikram Rathour and Rangana Herath joining the coaching staff, Williamson is confident it marks the start of an exciting new relationship that can help the team grow in the future.
“Obviously he brings a lot of experience to the team. They’re very knowledgeable coaches, especially in this part of the world. So obviously we met as a group yesterday. It’s a new relationship, but they’re really getting involved and trying to help as much as they can,” Williamson said.
First published: September 7, 2024 | 15:28 IS
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