'One of the greatest Blackcaps': NZ PM Pays Tribute to Williamson
New Delhi, June 13
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon hailed Kane Williamson as "one of the greatest Blackcaps of all time" after the batting great announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing the curtain down on a glittering 16-year career that transformed him into New Zealand's highest run-scorer across formats.
"Kane Williamson will always be considered one of the greatest Blackcaps of all time. Not only because of his remarkable skill - scoring the most runs for New Zealand in international cricket - but for how he carried himself his whole career. He is a total class act. A humble kid from the Bay of Plenty who went on to become one of the best cricketers in the history of the game. Congratulations on an incredible career Kane. You've done yourself, your family and your country proud," NZ PM Christopher Luxon posted on X.
Williamson, 35, bowed out of the international arena on Friday following a career where he established himself as one of the finest batsmen of his generation and the most respected name in global cricket.
New Zealand's highest-scoring batsman in international cricket, Williamson finished his career with 19,346 runs from 378 matches, scoring 48 centuries and six double hundreds. His career consisted of 9,515 runs in 110 Tests, 7,256 runs in 174 ODI and 2,575 in 93 T20Is.
Arguably one of the greatest players to ever pull on the Black Caps jersey, he also experienced great success as a leader. The 35-year-old captained across all formats from 2016 to 2024, leading the side to two Cricket World Cup finals, three Cricket World Cup semi-finals and New Zealand's first ever World Test Championship title in 2021.
Individual accolades flowed during an era of consistent dominance and excellence, including the ICC Cricketer of the Year award in 2015 and the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year award in 2019. Williamson also won New Zealand Cricket's Sir Richard Hadlee Medal on four occasions, more than any other player.
His retirement means Williamson will not feature for New Zealand in the current Test series against England in which the Black Caps trail 1-0, with team management expected to name a replacement in due course.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Absolutely deserved recognition! Kane Williamson's legacy goes beyond numbers - he inspired a generation with his humility and grace. Even during the 2019 World Cup final, he handled that heartbreaking tie with such dignity. A true role model not just for cricketers but for everyone.
Great player, but retirement at 35 feels early for someone of his class. New Zealand cricket will miss his experience and leadership, especially with the Test series against England ongoing. That said, his 19,346 runs and 48 centuries are incredible - a career well played, Kane!
As an Indian cricket fan, Williamson always gave me chills - especially during that 2019 WC final and the WTC final in 2021 against us. He was class personified. The PM's words "humble kid from Bay of Plenty" truly capture his essence. Wishing him all the best in retirement! 🙏
One thing I've always admired about Williamson is how he never let success get to his head. Even after scoring those massive centuries, he'd just walk off like it was another day at the office. That's real class, something we see too little of in modern cricket. His leadership during NZ's WTC triumph was top-notch.
Sad to see him go, but what a career! That 2015 WC season when he was ICC Cricketer of the Year, his calm captaincy in the 2019 WC final, and then the WTC title in 2021 - all unforgettable moments. New Zealand cricket owes him a lot. I hope he continues in leagues like the IPL - still has plenty to offer! 😊
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