As Tim Southee retired from Test cricket, Kane Williamson’s future plans in the format have also come into the spotlight, especially after turning down a central contract from New Zealand Cricket (NZC) for the 2024-25 cycle.
New Zealand’s legendary pacer Tim Southee has bid farewell to Test cricket, marking the end of a remarkable career in the longest format of the game with the Hamilton Test against England. Southee, New Zealand’s second-highest wicket-taker, leaves behind an incredible legacy with 391 wickets in 107 Test matches.
Kane Williamson’s future in the spotlight after Tim Southee’s retirement from Test Cricket
Southee also smashed 98 sixes in his career, making him fourth on the all-time list of batters with the most sixes in Test cricket. Well, Tim Southee’s journey with Kane Williamson has been equally iconic. They have been playing together since the 2008 U-19 World Cup and are teammates and friends for over a decade.
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They also played their 100th Test match together against Australia earlier this year. Even Southee took over as New Zealand’s Test captain from Williamson, leading the national team in 14 matches before stepping down ahead of the India tour, where the Black Caps have recorded a historic 3-0 Test series win under Tom Latham’s captaincy.
Interestingly, Kane Williamson’s future in Test cricket is also under the radar, thanks to the history of his injuries, especially a nagging elbow injury, hamstring injury, and right knee injury. However, Williamson opted to remain silent about his return to the whites, leaving fans speculating.
Kane Williamson’s Test plans remain uncertain
With no Test matches lined up for New Zealand over the next eight months, the Black Caps’ next red-ball challenge will come in July 2025, when they face Zimbabwe in a two-match Test series. So, Williamson isn’t in a hurry to make a decision and avoided giving any definite answer.
After New Zealand’s massive 423-run victory over England in the third and final Test in Hamilton, Kane Williamson remained uncertain about his future in Test cricket when asked about his participation in New Zealand’s next series against Zimbabwe.
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With the Test series eight months away, the iconic Kiwi batter kept his focus on the present, saying they have a packed schedule ahead, including the highly anticipated Champions Trophy 2025. Williamson also highlighted his love for Test cricket, but the lack of immediate red-ball matches for New Zealand has left his plans uncertain.
I’m just focusing on right now: Williamson
On being asked whether he would be around for the Zimbabwe Test series, Kane Williamson was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo: “It’s so far away at the moment. I’m just focusing on right now and getting through the rest of the summer, really. There’s a bunch of different cricket coming up, and the Champions Trophy, obviously, which is exciting. Yeah, just see how it goes. I love Test cricket. As you mention, there’s not a huge amount of it for some time, such is the schedule.”
For only the second time in his career, Williamson has ended a calendar year with over a thousand runs, thanks to the number of Test matches in 2024. Despite missing three matches in 2024, he still played nine, but true to his humble nature, Williamson downplayed his achievement, simply stating that he aims to do his part for the team.