KANE’S PLAYING THE LONG GAME
Why are Williamson and Boult absent from the T20 series against the Windies?
Black Caps talisman Kane Williamson finally returned yesterday, having passed his final Covid-19 test. Williamson and his fellow Indian Premier League inmates walked from their quarantine hotel in Christchurch into a cricketing summerexpected to be filled with significant fan gratitude.
Simply playing the gamein the wakeof a pandemic will offer sporting nourishment.
However, the national captain must first defend a short-pitched question: Whyare he and pace bowler Trent Boult absent from the three-match Twenty20 series against the West Indies?
The openinggame is tonight in
Auckland with the two remaining games in the pair’shometownof Tauranga.
Williamson and Boult werenew Zealand highest-paid exponents at the IPL in the UAE, and arguably the country’s best at adapting to conditions in thet20format. Consternationamongfollowers is understandable, given their skills won’t feature.
Yet themoveis also justifiable if Newzealand Cricket continues to prioritise tests as the ultimate form of the game. Wins in the series against the West Indies and Pakistan would put the Black Caps in a realistic position to qualify for the inaugural test championship final at Lord’s next year.
Williamson has welcomed the chance to dedicate his preparation to the opening two tests in Hamilton and Wellington next month. “That conversation started awhile back with our thoughts about planning ahead.
“It’s not missing a large volume of cricket and it’s nice to change focus to the red ball because games are going to start coming thick and fast.”
For fans fearing the end to Williamson’st20international career, coach Gary Stead has guaranteed his captain will keep playing all formats.
“Itmaybe thatwemanagethe time he plays. It doesn’tmeanhe has to play every game. I think it’s actually unrealistic to expect that withmodernday cricketers.”
Williamson’s re-entry to the longest form comes swathed in anticipation. Hewelcomes the pace bowling selectionconundrum which he and Stead face ahead of the series opener on December 3 in Hamilton.
Boult, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner and Kyle Jamieson will jostle for spots, depending onhowor if allrounder Daryl Mitchell and spinner Mitchell Santner are harnessed.
Jamieson’s rise in the format, taking nine wickets at an average of 16.33 in his two tests against India last summer, has ruled outalockie Ferguson return for now. Williamson says those performances were compelling. “You want to see guys coming through and offering something to the teamwhen opportunities arise. Someonelike Kyle has done that extremely well.”
Onthe batting front, Will Young’s part of the 13-man test squad as he awaits a debut in any format. Hehas averaged 49.22 in the Plunket Shield since the start of the 2017-18 season. Newly-eligibledevonconwayis only part of thet20international mix for now, but an elevation to test level beckons as the top run-scorer in the past two first-class competitions.
Williamson holds few fears for the pair’s ability to adapt if theybecome his teammates. “The depth and talent is perhaps as strong as it’s ever been,” Williamson said, “and with Devonand Will [centrally] contracted and batting well, they’ve dominated [domestically] for a long period.” — Nzherald