Young added to New Zealand squad for remaining England Tests following Williamson's retirement
London, June 13
New Zealand have drafted in Will Young for the remaining two Tests against England following Kane Williamson's retirement from international cricket on Friday.
Young, who last featured in a Test against West Indies in Christchurch in December, has represented New Zealand in 23 Tests, scoring 1,215 runs at an average of 31.97, ESPNcricinfo reported.
The 32-year-old was most recently part of New Zealand's ODI tour of Bangladesh, where he scored 30, 2 and 19 across the three-match series.
Young is set to arrive in England on Sunday, June 14, and will join the squad for training the following day ahead of the second Test at The Oval, which begins on June 17.
Kiwi's leading all-format run-scorer and widely regarded as one of the country's greatest batters, Kane Williamson, on Friday announced his immediate retirement from international cricket.
Williamson's announcement brings an end to a glittering 16-year international career that has seen him play 378 games for his country, setting countless batting records and earning the respect and admiration of the cricketing world.
The 35-year-old finishes as New Zealand's all-time leading international run-scorer with 19,346 runs, including 48 centuries and six double-centuries.
Alongside his numbers, Williamson's captaincy and leadership style were much admired, as he led the BlackCaps in all three formats during a golden period from 2016-2024, where they made two ICC World Cup Finals, three semi-finals, and won the inaugural ICC World Test Championship in 2021.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Williamson was a class apart - no controversies, just pure cricket. His 48 centuries are mind-blowing considering New Zealand doesn't play as many Tests as India. Young is a decent replacement but we'll miss Kane's calm presence in the slips. 🏏
Aussie here, but I've always admired Kane. He was like the Rahul Dravid of New Zealand - understated but absolutely rock-solid. Sad to see him go but what a career! Young has been around for a while, hope he grabs this opportunity against England.
As an Indian, I feel a bit sad seeing Kane retire. He was the one NZ batter who could handle Ashwin and Jadeja on Indian pitches. Young averages just 31.97 in Tests - that's not great for English conditions. Maybe NZ should have tried someone younger. Just my opinion. 🤔
Kane Williamson retirement announcement felt like losing a family member in cricket! 🥺 He was the heart and soul of NZ cricket. That WTC win in 2021 will always be special. Young has a golden chance now - hope he makes it count at The Oval.
Respect to Kane Williamson - a true legend who let his bat do the talking. His 16-year career is an inspiration. But honestly, Young's recent ODI form (30, 2, 19) isn't convincing. NZ might struggle to replace Kane's experience in English conditions. Still, cricket is unpredictable!
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