On his 35th birthday, Kane Williamson is celebrated as the leading run-scorer for New Zealand. His journey to the top included a pivotal moment: securing a place in the national team after hitting 40 centuries in club cricket. Now, he stands as a beacon of scoring prowess for the Kiwis.
Born on August 8, 1990, in Tauranga, Williamson’s passion for cricket was evident from his school days. His dedication led him to score 40 centuries in club cricket, which paved the way for his selection in the New Zealand team. He also captained the New Zealand U-19 team in the World Cup at 17.
Williamson debuted in international cricket against India in 2010. His first ODI century came against Bangladesh. He also became the youngest New Zealander to score a century. In his debut match against India, he scored a century, the eighth New Zealand player to achieve the feat, with 131 runs. Throughout his career, Williamson has set numerous records.
Under his leadership, New Zealand secured the first WTC title in 2021, defeating India. Williamson also led the team to the 2019 ODI World Cup final, though they lost to England. In 2021, he captained New Zealand to the T20 World Cup final, where they were defeated by Australia. In his international career, he has scored over 19,000 runs.
Williamson is one of New Zealand’s most successful captains, having played 371 international matches, scoring 19,086 runs and 48 centuries. His Test stats include 105 matches, 9,276 runs at an average of 54.88, with 33 centuries and 37 half-centuries. In ODIs, he has 173 matches, 7,235 runs at an average of 49.21, including 15 centuries and 47 half-centuries. In T20Is, he has 93 matches, 2,575 runs at 33.44 average, with 18 half-centuries. Williamson has played in the Indian Premier League for Sunrisers Hyderabad and Gujarat Titans. He hasn’t played for the Kiwis since the Champions Trophy.