Kane Williamson Quits Captaincy: New Zealand’s performance in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 was not very good and it could not even reach the Super 8. New Zealand first had to face defeat by 84 runs against Afghanistan. Then it was defeated by co-host West Indies by 13 runs. The Kiwi team then defeated Uganda by 9 wickets and Papua New Guinea by seven wickets. But this was not enough to reach the Super 8. Afghanistan and West Indies made it to the playoffs from Group C.
What Will Happen to Kane Williamson’s International Career?
After New Zealand’s early exit from the T20 World Cup, Kane Williamson has given up the captaincy of the ODI and T20 team. Along with this, Williamson also turned down the central contract for the 2024-25 season. Williamson had already given up the captaincy of the Test team. However, Williamson said that despite giving up the captaincy and opting out of the central contract, he will remain available for selection in all three formats.
33-year-old Williamson said, ‘I am very passionate about helping the team progress in all formats and I want to contribute to it. There will be an opportunity to play abroad during the New Zealand summer, so I am unable to accept the offer of a central contract.’ Let us tell you that very little international cricket is played in New Zealand in the month of January.
Kane Williamson Follows Path of Trent Boult
It is not a new thing for New Zealand players to reject the central contract. Star players like Trent Bolt and Jimmy Neesham have also done this so that they can participate in foreign leagues.
Let us tell you that the player bound by the central contract of New Zealand Cricket has to remain committed to playing domestic Super Smash competition (T20 competition) apart from international cricket, but Williamson did not want this like Bolt-Neesham.
According to New Zealand Cricket, Kane Williamson will be available for the remaining eight matches of New Zealand in the current cycle of the World Test Championship. In this championship, New Zealand will once again try to play the final, which will be played at Lord’s in June next year. At the end of November, New Zealand will play the first Test of the three-match series against England on its soil.
Williamson says, ‘Playing for New Zealand is very precious to me and my desire to give something back to the team has not diminished yet. However, my life outside cricket has changed. Spending more time with my family. Enjoying experiences with them at home or abroad is even more important to me.’
Kane Williamson’s International Record
Kane Williamson has played 100 Tests, 165 ODIs and 93 T20 matches for New Zealand so far. In Test matches, he has scored 8743 runs at an average of 54.98, which includes 32 centuries and 34 half-centuries. In ODI International, Williamson has scored 6810 runs at an average of 48.64.
Kane Williamson has scored 13 centuries and 45 half-centuries in ODIs. In T20 International, Williamson has scored 2575 runs at an average of 33.44 and with the help of 18 half-centuries. Williamson captained New Zealand in 40 Tests (22 wins, 10 losses), 91 ODIs (46 wins, 40 losses) and 75 T20 (39 wins, 34 losses) matches.
