Low-risk Kane looks good in the long run

On current form Williamson rates the world’s No 2 test batsman, with only Steve Smith ahead. Both captain their countries and are coming off intense, draining defeats where they ensured their sides fought right to the end against powerhouse opponents.

For Williamson and Smith to still be scoring truckloads of runs at the helm of their test and ODI sides shows their immense talent and mental toughness. The parallels could go on and on.

Williamson is certainly capable of ending his career with more runs than Smith. There’s plenty against him; mainly the fact Smith will play more tests and a fair chunk of them on Australian tarmac where bowlers’ hearts can break.

This just-completed test in Hamilton showed how strong Williamson is, and how he’ll continue to score runs at an alarming rate with no discernible drop-off. Backing up from his lowest two-innings return in Wellington, with his team under enormous pressure, he equalled Martin Crowe’s century record of 17 and put his side in a winning position.

All this with the heavy burden of captaincy in all three formats, which is ridiculous and New Zealand Cricket must look to ease this year. Not because of any captaincy weakness, but to protect their prized asset so he can keep plundering runs into his 30s, retain some enjoyment and win matches for his country. The offfield time pressure is enormous and everyone has a limit.

There’s the key. If Williamson agrees to give up the Twenty20 captaincy, and have a serious think about handing over the test or ODI reins at some point, then he’ll be the gift that keeps on giving for NZC.

Technically Williamson is better than Smith; his nofuss, low-risk technique honed by hours and hours of painstaking work.

Smith – one year and two months older – is remarkable to watch. Hopping about like a jack-in-thebox, his head and fast hands arrive in exactly the right place at the right time for the ball to fizz to the boundary like he’s swatting a fly. On seaming pitches this carries some risk; but Smith’s only really experienced this on the last Ashes tour of England.

The big question is whether Smith’s razor sharp eye remains as keen into his 30s. Every cricketer who relies on brilliant hand-eye co-ordination knows that, one day it will never be the same.

This, and how Smith continues to handle the burden of captaining his country, is the big key to prolonging his batting output. He lost his cool in Dharamsala with a loose shot, then later was captured mouthing ‘‘f ..... g cheat’’ after replays of a disputed catch.

Williamson reached 5000 runs in his 110th innings this week while Smith got there in 97, seventh equal. Smith is in the box seat to end his career with more runs, but New Zealand’s skipper just continues to step up in his cool, unflappable manner. If he’s handled well, Williamson will break all sorts of records while Smith has a hectic pace to maintain. Game on.