Ease the load and share the burden
Kane Williamson is a brilliant cricketer and an astute captain, but even the best have breaking points. At 26, Williamson is the leader of the New Zealand team in all three formats and the country’s best batsman. That’s to a heavy workload and a significant level of responsibility.
Not only is he expected to call the shots and consistently score a sizeable chunk of his team’s runs on the field, off it there are the constant media and commercial commitments that are a captain’s lot.
Williamson has done a better than average job of both since succeeding Brendon McCullum as the skipper 12 months ago.
The team is ranked first in Twenty20s, third in onedayers and fifth in tests, while their classy captain is among the top eight batsmen in all three formats.
But, 40 matches in a year (22 wins, 16 losses, two draws) with so much depending on you can take its toll and, much like cracks beginning to open up on an ageing sub-continent pitch, the effects of a heavy burden are starting to show.
No more was that evident than the weary look on Williamson’s face immediately following last week’s eight-wicket thumping in the second test against South Africa. If he is going to continue contributing to the best of his capabilities as a batsman, and captain, the time has come to lift some of that weight.
A little help, it is said, goes a long way. While it may seem unnecessary to some from the old school brigade, it is far from an approach without precedent. In fact, for those teams acknowledged as the best in the world, it is the norm.
Australia’s Steve Smith led his team at the World T20 in March last year but has not played any of their five T20s since and has been in charge for just eight games in total.
Virat Kohli’s debut as India’s T20 captain came less than two months ago, after more than two years as test skipper. And new England test skipper Joe Root has remained a batsman only in the limited-overs formats, while South Africa’s test and T20 captain Faf du Plessis makes way for predecessor AB de Villiers in onedayers.
The sustained success of those four teams and players is proof of how Williamson and his team could benefit from a lightening of his load.
That’s not to say he should stop playing T20s for New Zealand altogether. He is a superb T20 batsman and his presence for World T20s and a sprinkling of significant matches should be welcomed.
But only good can be gained from allowing Williamson some breathing room and the likes of vicecaptain Tim Southee, new-ball partner Trent Boult, or even all-rounder Corey Anderson are all capable of leading in the shortest format.
Ponder this. If success at the 2019 World Cup is the team’s major goal and the importance of tests remains widely recognised, then surely their best player’s energies should be focussed in those directions.