Kane Williamson has had an exceptional international career built on class, humility, and outstanding leadership.
New Zealand’s most prolific all-format run-scorer and arguably greatest ever batsman, Kane Williamson has decided to step down from international cricket with immediate effect.
The 35-year-old’s decision draws to a close an illustrious international career spanning 16 years and 378 games, where he set numerous batting records and gained the adoration of cricket fans worldwide. He bows out as the all-time leading international run scorer for New Zealand with a total of 19,346 runs, including 48 centuries and six double centuries.
The Black Caps have appeared in two ICC World Cup Finals and three semi-finals during Williamson’s reign, and the 2021 ICC World Test Championship was won under his captaincy.
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The 33-year-old has played 40 tests, 91 one-day international and 75 twenty-over internationals for the Black Caps and was also awarded ICC Cricketer of 2015 and Test Player of 2019 along with four Sir Richard Hadlee Medals. He first represented New Zealand in 2010, retiring from T20I internationals last November.
Williamson insisted that he was “optimistic” about the future of the Black Caps without him. “There is so much talent and a real hunger to achieve something special with this New Zealand team. “It is a team I love playing for, and I consider myself extremely fortunate to have played a part in it for so many years; I will always hold it close to my heart.”
Kane Williamson – New Zealand men’s records
- Most international runs (19,346)
- Most international centuries (48)
- Most international double-centuries (6)
- Sixth most international appearances (378)
- Most Test runs (9,515)
- Most Test centuries (33)
- Third most Test appearances (110)
- Fourth most ODI runs (7,256)
- Fourth most ODI centuries (14)
- Second most T20I runs (2575)
- Highest Test average 54.06 (min 20 games)
- Second highest ODI average 48.69 (min 20 games)
- Third highest T20I average 33 (min 5 games)
- Fourth most international catches (217)
- Equal most test wins (47), with Tom Latham and Tim Southee
- First to score centuries in four consecutive Test matches
Captaincy record
- 40 Tests – 22 wins, 10 losses & 8 draws (2nd most behind Stephen Fleming – 28 wins from 80 Tests)
- 91 ODIs – 46 wins, 40 losses, 1 tie, 4 NR (2nd behind Stephen Fleming – 98 wins from 218 ODIs)
- 75 T20Is – 39 wins, 34 losses, 1 tie, 1 NR (most by a NZ captain)
- 2016 ICC T20 World Cup semi-final in India
- 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup Final in England
- 2021 ICC World Test Championship Final in England – win
- 2021 ICC T20 World Cup Final in UAE
- 2022 ICC T20 World Cup semi-final in Australia
- 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup semi-final in India
Other records and accolades
- 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Player of the Tournament
- 2019 ICC Test Player of the Year
- 2018 ICC Spirit of Cricket Award
- In 2016, he became the fastest and youngest player in history to score centuries against all major Test-playing nations
- 2015 Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World
- Sir Richard Hadlee Medal – 2015-16, 2016-17, 2019 and 2020
- Scored a century on Test debut v India, Ahmedabad 2010
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