Cricket public want to see all

Summer cricket without Kane Williamson is like Christmas without Santa.

The fall of George Worker’s wicket in the third one-day international at Christchurch would normally bring the chords of the John Butler Trio’s Zebra on to the public address system.

That theme music means the New Zealand captain is on his way.

Instead, the Hagley Oval crowd heard the opening riffs of Metallica’s Enter Sandman. Cue Neil Broom.

Broom is hardly a lump of coal in New Zealand fans’ Boxing Day stockings, but they know watching Williamson at work is a chance to observe a cricketing treasure, both in batsmanship and sportsmanship.

New Zealand Cricket, and particularly the selectors, must exercise caution when limiting his appearances in home summers.

Two winter off seasons — in 2017 and 2018 — should be ample time to rest.

Many fans would have forked out precious disposable income to book their tickets months ago on the assumption Williamson would be playing. The spectacle is diluted otherwise.

As a gauge for the future, NZC should fence off a group of players — such as Williamson, Ross Taylor, Trent Boult and possibly Tim Southee — who play under all circumstances, form and injury permitting, because of their status.

Those names, along with Martin Guptill in white ball internationals, are magnets for generating an audience.

Anecdotal evidence exists in this writer’s household. When the cricket’s on telly, the first question his four-year-old son asks after coming in from playing is: “Are Williamson and Taylor batting yet?”

Any fan disappointment is understandable, with Williamson not featuring in the two ODIs against the West Indies at Christchurch, or the opening T20 at Nelson. Thankfully, he will be back for the second T20 in his home city of Tauranga when the Bay Oval floodlights make their international debut.

It’s a relief coach and selector Mike Hesson confirmed a full strength team will play against Champions Trophy winners Pakistan when they arrive for five ODIs and three T20s next month.

However, a case can be built that the gamble to rest Williamson and Southee from the majority of the 3-0 ODI series victory paid off.