Kane Williamson Walks the Walk to Super Stardom

For a nation seeking the big spoils in international cricket in its 90-year long history, and a mite unlucky not to have gone the distance denied world cup success in 2019 by a whisker having tied the final with England by the quake of a faster run rate, striking gold to wear the crown of World Test Cricket Champions thrashing high riding India by 8 wickets not to be bugged by the rain, was indeed the culminating hurrah champagne uncorking to a journey of sweat, blood and tears of the gallant men from the Kiwi land nicknamed the Black Caps. In a low scoring grand test finale wracked by rain for a good part that went into an extra sixth day at Southampton , there were those smiling cricketers even in defeat, at long last realising the big, big cricketing dream of a generation before them for their nation to cherish.  

MEASURED TALL

That in that glitter of gold that Kane Williamson, the skipper measured tally in lifting his side to glory with the bat in a typically characteristic last guard first innings redeeming knock of 49 from the depths of defeat staring in the eyes, and unbeaten final say 52 chasing 139  was as much a personally vindicating pay off to the bearded, handsome cricketing warrior. It was the ultimate personification of a great captain, the master not only in marshaling his team, but also of walking the walk with his bat. In that golden dream realised, 30 -year old Williamson reigned in as a super champion; not only for his on field heroics, but also as a tremendously glowing example to the rest of the world who displayed the traits of a game sportsman when he smiled gamely with the rest of his team in defeat in that ODI world cup agony two years ago.  

NOT TO BE OUTDONE

Not to be put down by that world cup misadventure that brought the Black Caps to tears, come back did Williamson on the very British soil leading New Zealand into the Test championship in the longer version of cricket, by far the most taxing game in world cricket, to crowning themselves the Kings of Test Cricket. This time around, making no mistake in dispatching arch rivals England in clinical fashion in setting up a fitting final with India. A fitting finale it was in that run up where Virat Kohli’s Indians had been in a long march dictating terms as the top Test cricketing nation around. That Williamson’s charges advanced in leaps and bounds dispensing top opposition on the way to raising their hands to anointing themselves the rightful kings of Test cricket in staving off the Indians when Kohli’s men were close to victory did underline the professionalism of eleven champion players. Therein, the skipper prevailing the master of that scripting of leading from the front as much marshaling his team calling the correct decisions to stopping a similarly high class Indian outfit symobolised cricketing virtue of the ultimate superior.  

Born on August 8, 1990,  hailing from Tauranga, In a 10-year long Test career, Kane Stuart Williamson’s credentials are showcased  by 7230 runs from 85 appearances and 148 innings with 24 centuries and 33 half centuries with highest of 251 averaging 53.95 and strike rate of 51.76. 

For the cricket friendly nation known for its cottage lifestyle and famous for its dairy products and fruits, the Test Cricket World Cup marks an epitaph to savour, and Williamson has emerged as the king who arrived to deliver for  his country the pot of gold at long last in that arduous journey.  

SCORES AT A GLANCE:

New Zealand 249 and 140/2  (Conway 54, Williamson 49, Shami 4-76) and 140 for 2 (Williamson 52*, Taylor 47, Ashwin 2-17) beat India 217 (Rahane 49, Kohli 44, Jamieson 5-31) and 170 (Pant 41, Southee 4-48) by eight wickets