Taranaki Daily News

Kane put to test by students

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‘‘Ultimately it’s all about the people around you and those sorts of decisions are not just my own.

‘‘Those discussion­s are always going on, but ultimately I’m very passionate about the team and where we’re going.’’

Williamson had a long break from cricket last summer to let a long-running elbow injury heal and has passed 50 just twice in 27 internatio­nal innings in all formats since he first started feeling the impact of it in early 2021.

He has rarely looked fluent at the crease during that run, the longest sustained stretch of poor form during his 12-year career, and that is backed up by the fact that his scoring rates in that time are well down on his career marks.

Williamson played a dead bat when asked when he’d last enjoyed himself and felt fluent out in the middle, offering little more than ‘‘I love cricket,’’ and when asked how he would assess his own form since he first had elbow trouble, he continued to give little away but suggested he was still in the process of finding his way back.

‘‘It was quite disruptive, but at

‘‘It is nice that it’s got to the point where I can train fully.’’ Kane Williamson

the same time, for me, it’s being patient,’’ Williamson said.

‘‘Patience is a strength of mine in some respects and training and those sorts of things were hindered for a period of time, but it is nice that it’s got to the point where I can train fully and put that time back into my game.’’

As for the student questions that had Williamson stumped at first? He did eventually have answers: He uses Zinc or Swim, the zinc product from rugby players Tom Robinson and Josh Goodhue and he tries to stay pretty level-headed when it comes to his emotions around cricket.

Which was echoed in his later answers: His form doesn’t worry him – he’ll just keep calm and carry on.

 ?? PHOTOSPORT/ GETTY IMAGES ?? Black Caps captain Kane Williamson speaks during the team’s Twenty20 World Cup squad announceme­nt at Avondale College in Auckland. Williamson’s form was patchy during the recent oneday series in Australia.
PHOTOSPORT/ GETTY IMAGES Black Caps captain Kane Williamson speaks during the team’s Twenty20 World Cup squad announceme­nt at Avondale College in Auckland. Williamson’s form was patchy during the recent oneday series in Australia.
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