New Delhi: New Zealand Great Ken Williamson Announcing his retirement from international cricket on Friday, he brought to a close one of the most distinguished careers in the country’s cricketing history.The 35-year-old’s decision marks the end of an era for New Zealand cricket, after Williamson’s longest absence from all international formats for more than 15 years. The announcement comes a year after he had already decided to move on from T20 Internationals.Widely regarded as one of the best batsmen of his generation, Williamson left the game as New Zealand’s highest run-scorer in international cricket. Across all formats, he scored 19,346 runs and established himself as the backbone of the Black Caps batting line-up for over a decade.His greatest success came in Test cricket, where he scored over 9,500 runs, including 33 centuries and six double centuries.
Kane Williamson retires : Complete statement
Yes, it has been a process. You know, when I look at what the team means to me and how I’ve been at such a high level about the game for so long, I just felt in the last few days that it felt like the time was right for me to step away and the flip side of that is I’m seeing a group, a really, really talented group that’s going on a journey that I want to do with this new team completely. Incredibly lucky to have been a part of it for so long and have so much respect for the New Zealand team, the Black Caps, and the game. And so it feels right to make this decision today.Yeah, I was going to say maybe there are parts to it. I think starting as a youngster and dreaming of representing New Zealand at a high level in a game that I love and am very passionate about and that’s our country’s path and it was for every young cricketer around the world to try and represent their country and play at a high level and then it quickly becomes this pursuit, I think, to challenge you where you can be the best platform for international sport. Must try. Every single day and that kind of strong focus, it was actually something that I’m very thankful for, that I’ve been able to follow that passion from a young cricketer until now and for so many years with the Black Caps team, it’s not just representing your country, which is special, but it’s a strong bond of a group of players who are trying to do something special and that’s how you get to do something special together with the team and that’s how you make the team so special. Good experience. It’s been special and I’ve loved it.I’m very excited about the group and the people I see in that dressing room and the depth of talent we have.I’m looking forward to the journey ahead for them and I can’t wait to follow it and still present it if needed, you know? And it’s a team that I love and it’s very dear to my heart and I’ve loved it all the way and I feel the same way, you know? And they’re all very motivated to try and do that for this team and those are some of the experiences I’ve had over the last 16 years.It’s funny, you have moments, I guess, highlights and successes and your ups and downs that you remember but for me, maybe, growing into leadership roles and really feeling like you’re a part of trying to get something better, a better place and I think that’s the journey that I’ve loved. It’s the kind of commitment that you see growing and it’s really quite satisfying and it shows in some of these cool experiences or maybe in the final of the World Test Championship or the general level that the team has reached, it’s like something that you reflect on rather than just a moment in time and that’s my specialty.It’s actually across the board where you’ve given everything, you’ve seen the team take some really big steps in a good direction and I look at the team now and I see big steps forward for them and I think they can achieve some really special things.Yeah, I’m not 100% sure but I’m looking forward to taking that step. I have a young family and I’m looking forward to spending a little more time there and seeing what’s next for me.
Kane Williamson’s Career
| Format | Matches | runs | Average | 100s | The 50s | Most of all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 110 | 9515 | 54.06 | 33 | 38 | 251 |
| One day | 175 | 7257 | 48.38 | 15 | 47 | 148 |
| T20I | 93 | 2575 | 33.01 | 0 | 18 | 95 |
| yesterday | 378 | 19,347 | – | 48 | 103 | 251 |
