Dylan Cleaver
Kane Williamson — brilliant batsman, appalling salesman
The only memorable thing about Kane Williamson’s second test double-century was the sheer inevitability of it.
If that sounds like damning with faint praise, it’s really the opposite. It’s takes a special kind of skill to be so good at what you do that the extraordinary becomes ordinary.
Williamson is extraordinary. He’s a brilliant batsman and an appalling salesman.
Every time he opens his mouth, he sells himself short. It’s contagious, too. Every time a Black Cap is asked to talk about themselves, it is like they’re being timed to see how quickly they can refer back to the team or the environment.
(Occasionally, it should be acknowledged, Williamson’s reticence to say anything remotely provocative or enlightening sells his sport short, but that’s an argument for another day.)
Asked to talk about a 100 and Williamson will demur with a “nice to spend some time in the middle” answer that never rises above a dull monotone.
Asked to analyse a test victory in which he plays the lead role in a 700-plus total and he’ll say “the bowlers were outstanding throughout”.
Ask him to talk about New Zealand’s elevation to No 2 in the world rankings, achieved in no small part because of his leadership and batting, and he’ll say: “You turn up in every game to play the best cricket. It ends there.”
Except it doesn’t end there. Not for the fans. Not for the media. We want to keep talking about the ease, the sheer bloodlessness, of Williamson’s feat; he wants to keep talking about Neil Wagner.
So in acknowledgement of the clear-thinking, relentless efficiency of Williamson’s batting, I’m going to equally efficiently and somewhat shamelessly steal from myself, by updating a Power Rankings Special Edition (PoRSE), where his test centuries are ranked in descending order of brilliance.*
Let the plagiarism begin.
10 166 v Australia, Perth, 2015
It wasn’t even his best knock in this series. It was typically excellent, but his old mate Taylor was busy at the other end compiling 290 on a flat Waca wicket.
9 102 v England, Auckland, 2018
It was important, coming in a brilliant victory, it was restrained and it was the first pink-ball century in New Zealand. Well played.
8 131 v India, Ahmedabad, 2010
Why does a debut century sit down at eight on this list? Because he’s scored seven more momentous centuries, that’s why.
7 161 not out v West Indies, Bridgetown, 2014
New Zealand had won the first test on the back of a Williamson century but lazily went down by 10 wickets at Port of Spain. They needed to win in Barbados to claim their first series away from home against a top eight side for 12 years. Williamson’s brilliant second innings intervention invited McCullum to declare at stumps on day four and leave the Windies 308 to win. They fell 54 runs short.
6 132 v England, London, 2014
New Zealand made a pig’s ear of this test, somehow losing after scoring 523 on the back of Williamson’s pure-class century. It’s at Lord’s, too, so gains instant gravitas.
5 102 not out v South Africa, Wellington, 2012
Williamson’s second century was a coming-of-age moment. New Zealand were given no price on batting through the final day to save the match. Williamson stood firm even after copping one in the nuts from Dale Steyn, his cracked protector a treasured memento.
4 139 v Pakistan, Abu Dhabi, 2018
A ridiculously good century that paved the way to an improbable series victory.
3 242 not out v Sri Lanka, Wellington, 2015
New Zealand were in trouble in the second innings until Williamson and BJ Watling shared a then-world record unbeaten partnership of 365 for the sixth wicket. A remarkable turnaround saw them roll Sri Lanka for 196 to take the test. If the attack was a little stronger, this would be top.
2 176 v South Africa, Hamilton, 2017
It wasn’t a match-winning knock, but with the visitors 80-5 and miles behind going into the final day, it should have been. Rain prevailed but couldn’t rinse away the class of Williamson’s knock. Even Faf du Plessis described his performance across the series as extraordinary.
1 140 v Australia, Brisbane, 2015
History suggests visiting teams cannot bat on the Gabba and this was no different, really — apart from Williamson, whose impeccable 140 was a beacon. Scored in just 178 balls, this was a sublime example of batsmanship against a world-class bowling attack. Even the Aussie commentators were wowed.
* This was first published a year ago, when Williamson scored his 18th test century, breaking the far more loquacious Martin Crowe’s record.