Kane Williamson

Kane Williamson, born on August 8, 1990, in Tauranga, New Zealand, is a renowned cricketer known for his exceptional batting prowess and exemplary leadership skills. Making his international debut in 2010, Williamson has established himself as one of the finest batsmen of his generation, renowned for his elegant stroke play, impeccable technique, and calm demeanour at the crease. He has been a pillar of consistency across all formats of the game, accumulating runs against the world’s best bowlers with remarkable ease.

Personal details 

Teams 

• New Zealand
• Gujarat Titans
• Barbados Tridents
• Edmonton Royals
• Gloucestershire
• Gloucestershire 2nd XI
• New Zealand A
• New Zealand Cricket XI
• New Zealand Emerging Players
• New Zealand Under-19s
• New Zealand XI
• Northern Districts
• Sunrisers Hyderabad
• Yorkshire

About Kane Williamson 

Williamson’s leadership qualities came to the fore when he was appointed captain of the New Zealand cricket team across formats in 2016. Under his captaincy, New Zealand reached the final of the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup and earned accolades for their sportsmanship and spirited performance.

Off the field, Williamson is revered for his humility, integrity, and gentlemanly conduct, earning him respect and admiration from fans and peers worldwide.

Kane Williamson Career Highlights 

• Became the youngest centurion in New Zealand cricket history at the age of 20.
• Became the eighth New Zealand cricketer to score a century on Test debut.
• Recorded the third-highest strike rate for a century by a New Zealander in a One-Day International, scoring an unbeaten 100 off 69 balls.
• Ranked as the fifth-fastest batsman in the world and the fastest New Zealander to reach 3,000 Test runs.
• Holds the record for the most Test runs for New Zealand in a calendar year, amassing 1172 runs in 2015.
• Became the thirteenth batsman to score a Test century against all test-playing nations.
• Became the first New Zealand cricketer to surpass 900 rating points in the ICC Test batting rankings in 2018.
• Holds the record for the fastest New Zealand cricketer to score 6,000 runs in Test cricket.
• Ranked fifth in the world for international runs by a batter in a calendar year, scoring 2692 runs in 2015.
• Holds the record for the fastest milestones of 3,000, 4,000, 5,000, 6,000, and 7,000 Test runs for New Zealand.
• Holds the record for the most runs by a captain in a single edition of a 50-over World Cup, scoring 578 runs.
• Holds the record for the most 50-plus scores for New Zealand in Tests, with 57.
• Recorded the most Test runs for New Zealand in 2020 (498 runs) and 2021 (395 runs).
• Holds the record for the most Test centuries (24) by a New Zealand batter.
• Ranked second in terms of international runs by a New Zealand batter across all formats.
• Ranked second for the most Test wins by a New Zealand skipper, with 22 wins in 40 games.
• Named the fastest Kiwi to reach 6,000 ODI runs and joint-highest for double-centuries in Tests with 4.

Kane Williamson Awards 

• Annual ICC Awards in January 2022
• ICC Men’s Test Team of the Year for the year 2021.

Career 

Domestic career 

Williamson began his cricketing journey at just 17 years old when he debuted for the Northern Districts in 2007, where he has remained throughout his career with the New Zealand national team. In September 2014, he showcased his T20 prowess by scoring an unbeaten 101 runs off 49 balls, leading the Northern Districts to victory over the Cape Cobras in the 2014 Champions League Twenty20.

In English County Cricket, Williamson initially joined Gloucestershire for the 2011 season. Later, in August 2013, he switched to Yorkshire for the remainder of the season and extended his contract for the successful 2014 season, during which Yorkshire won the County Championship. Although scheduled to return for the second half of the 2015 season, Yorkshire opted to retain Aaron Finch instead when Finch became available due to non-selection in Australia’s ODI squad. Williamson later returned for parts of the 2016 and 2018 seasons.

IPL Career 

In February 2015, Kane Williamson joined the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad. He played a pivotal role in the team’s success during the 2016 season, where they clinched the title. Williamson continued with the team for the 2017 and 2018 seasons and took over the captaincy from David Warner in 2018. Under his leadership, Sunrisers Hyderabad finished second in the tournament, with Williamson emerging as the season’s top scorer, amassing 735 runs.

However, in the 2021 IPL season, Sunrisers Hyderabad struggled and finished last in the tournament. Williamson assumed the captaincy mid-season from David Warner but couldn’t turn the team’s fortunes around, winning only three games.

Retained as captain for the 2022 edition, Williamson’s performance was below par, managing just one half-century. Ahead of the 2023 season, he was bought by the Gujarat Titans but suffered an injury in the first match of the season, sidelining him for the remainder of the tournament.

International career 

Kane Williamson’s cricket journey began at 17 when he led New Zealand’s U19 team to the 2008 World Cup semi-finals. His Test debut against India in 2010 saw him score a century, becoming the eighth New Zealander to do so on debut. In ODIs, he recorded his first century against Bangladesh in 2010, becoming the youngest New Zealand centurion. Williamson’s stellar performances include leading New Zealand to rare away Test wins and becoming the fastest to score 3,000 runs in ODIs and Tests.

In 2016, he assumed captaincy across formats, succeeding Brendon McCullum. Under his leadership, New Zealand reached the 2019 Cricket World Cup final, where he emerged as the tournament’s top-scoring captain. He also led New Zealand to victory in the ICC World Test Championship final against India in 2021.

Williamson’s achievements extend to Test cricket, where he holds records for the most centuries and runs by a New Zealand batter. In December 2022, he relinquished Test captaincy but continued to excel, scoring his fifth double-century and surpassing Ross Taylor’s run tally. In 2023, he added to his century tally, showcasing his enduring dominance in the game.

Test Career 

In a remarkable Test career spanning from 2010 to 2024, Kane Williamson has amassed a total of 8,743 runs in 100 matches, showcasing his consistency and prowess as a batsman. With the highest score of 251 runs, he boasts an impressive average of 54.98. Williamson’s innings have been characterized by resilience and skill, facing a total of 17,006 balls and maintaining a strike rate of 51.41. 

ODI Career 

In his ODI career spanning from 2010 to 2023, Kane Williamson has featured in 165 matches, showcasing his consistency and impact as a batsman. Accumulating a total of 6,810 runs, he has displayed remarkable batting prowess, with a highest score of 148 runs and an average of 48.64. 

T20 International Career 

In his T20I career spanning from 2011 to 2024, Kane Williamson has participated in 89 matches, showcasing his versatility and adaptability in the shortest format of the game. With a total of 2,547 runs to his name, he has displayed his batting prowess, maintaining an average of 33.96.

Family 

Kane Williamson is ambidextrous, batting and bowling with his right hand while preferring to write with his left hand. He shares two children, a daughter and a son, with his wife Sarah Raheem, whom he encountered in 2015. Notably, during the New Zealand versus Pakistan ODI series in 2014, Williamson generously contributed his entire match fee from all five ODIs to support the victims affected by the tragic 2014 Peshawar school massacre.