Captain Kane’s run search
‘‘It’s one thing you don’t need to worry about with Kane, he’s not far away from scoring runs.’’
Ross Talor on Kane Williamson
Kane Williamson may have never been out of form in his life, but if there was one time where he could be considered in a bit of a dry spell, it may well be now.
Of course, the international summer is just one innings deep for the Black Caps captain, but as he leads his side into the second test against the West Indies in Hamilton on Saturday he could certainly be anxious for a score of note, on return to a Seddon Park ground which holds fond memories.
Through the Black Caps’ tour to India in September-October, and to the start of the Carribean Premier League in early August, Williamson has just one fifty from his past 21 innings.
Yes, 18 of those are white-ball games, and yes, only seven of those were international matches but runs are runs, and for Williamson it’s rare territory, for a man so prolific whatever the format.
Since all those hundreds at schoolboy tournaments, to showing domestic bowlers up, to becoming one of the top talents in the international arena and already being New Zealand’s equal-mostprolific test century maker, Williamson has never been far from carving out an innings of substance.
In scoring one in his only turn at bat in the innings and 67 run victory in the first test win in Wellington, the masterful right-hander had the ignominy of being outscored by all his team-mates, as they racked up 520-9 declared.
So often with massive reliance on his shoulders in order for the Black Caps to go big, the skipper guided a cut straight to Shai Hope in the gully off Kemar Roach, on his 10th delivery faced, in what looked a shot which limited-overs formats may have had a say in.
As disappointed as he would have been, at the same time the captain would have been delighted to see the rest of his troops stand up so well.
But now he’ll be desperate to get back to leading by example.
Think of the current-day captains – the likes of Steve Smith for Australia, Virat Kohli for India, Joe Root for England – and you can see the influence and inspiration they can bring when they score big.
Williamson’s renowned meticulous preparation will have him ready as ever.
Having hit ball after ball in the throwdown net with batting coach Craig McMillan, the 27-year-old then sat with pads on chatting at length to batting consultant Bob Carter, and was relieved of his usual game-eve media duty, with Ross Taylor standing in, and backing his skipper to come right in quick time.
‘‘It’s one thing you don’t need to worry about with Kane, he’s not far away from scoring runs,’’ Taylor said.
‘‘If there’s anyone I’ve ever played with in my career I know that’s not too far away from getting a score [it’s him].
‘‘And the way he’s been working in the last little while, even if he doesn’t make a score I know it’s not far away.’’
And if Williamson could have chosen a venue for his next innings, Seddon Park would no doubt have been right up there – his Northern Districts home ground, where he has a test average of 58.20 (compared to a career 50.66) and where in his last test at the venue, in March, he equalled the late Martin Crowe’s record of test centuries for New Zealand (17) with a majestic 176 against South Africa.