The Silent Assassin - Kane Williamson, New Zealand's greatest batter

[shaz619]

For me personally, arguably he is the best player in the world if not up there with the best. Why does he keep falling under the radar ? the best NZ Batsman I have ever had the pleasure to watch in my time after Stephen Fleming and surely their greatest Batsman since the very unique Martin Crowe.

What a fabulous hundred today against the West Indies in a high profile World Cup game against the West Indies, 2 wickets had fallen in the very first over but under an enormous amount of pressure he remained composed to bat till the very end.

I keep asking myself, how does one get this very stubborn individual out ? often, the damage is already done when he walks back to the pavilion. This man deserves so much credit, just doesn't get enough in my opinion despite his excellent performances. I don't particularly think the NZ batting line up is as strong without him but he continues to lead from the front - a very inspirational captain.

But this is the time to shine and Kane Williamson's star is shining very brightly at the 2019 World Cup.

 

[shaz619]

I just kept thinking during this game against the WI, now he's going to get out, now he's going to get out, now he's going to get out! but what a magnificent batsman, KW is a bloody stubborn gladiator

 

[KingKhanWC]

Out of the so called fab 4 Williamson is easily head and shoulders above the other 3 in this world cup. He might break the record for the number of runs in the world cup with this form.

Kane
Root
Kohli/Smith

 

[shaz619]

Out of the so called fab 4 Williamson is easily head and shoulders above the other 3 in this world cup. He might break the record for the number of runs in the world cup with this form.

Kane
Root
Kohli/Smith

He is invincible at the moment and highly under rated, among all those names he is really standing out for me in this tournament although Root is doing pretty well as well. KW doesn't play in the strongest line up either and just holds the innings together so consistently it's remarkable

 

[Hasan123]

Will finish as NZ greatest batter and maybe greatest captain. His calm persona must make his team feel so relaxed. Also leads from the front which inspires his team mates.

 

[shaz619]

Will finish as NZ greatest batter and maybe greatest captain. His calm persona must make his team feel so relaxed. Also leads from the front which inspires his team mates.

One hell of a leader and inspiration, even with all that talent and skill his mental fortitude is his greatest attribute. The world needs to praise him so much more

 

[Dr_Bassim]

On a different league.

Best ever batsmen for NZ and if NZ win the World Cup somehow under him this year or 04 years from now, he will establish his legacy as an ATG.

 

[Aman]

If he can lead this NZ team to a WC, he can be called the GOAT NZ bowler for all I care.

 

[Savak]

He has delivered in all conditions. He is very humble and goes about his business silently which explains why he goes under the radar

 

[ARK Rafay]

I love the title the Silent Assassin. He for me is the best Test batsman after Smith got banned. Also he's the best captain among fab 4.

 

[happydavy]

I would rate him the best batsman in this world and this world cup and considering Kiwis will reach semis, perhaps now the most important wicket of this world cup, alongside Butler.

 

[happydavy]

Reason I rate him higher than Smith and Kohli is because he almost single handedly won kiwis a test series against Pakistan in UAE against all odds. It doesn't happen often that a batsman win a test series, Kane is unique that way. He just doesn't give up and comes up with incredible performances.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Decent batting surfaces helped lot of batsmen play above their level in this world cup. kane was never a force in the one dayers. He has just clicked just like all the other batsmen. You will see so many 500 plus total batsmen in this world cup.

 

[The Viper]

He really is in some form. Its going to be a challenge for all teams to find a way to dismiss him. NZ openers need to give him some support as he will fail at some point.

 

[jnaveen1980]

He really is in some form. Its going to be a challenge for all teams to find a way to dismiss him. NZ openers need to give him some support as he will fail at some point.

Have a short third man for him always. You will soon inside edging the ball on to the stumps. If you block his go to shot of tap to third man, you can stifle him.

 

[shariqnoor]

If Imam had made 148 off 154 balls, people would have slammed him for batting too slow. But since it's Williamson, what an incredible knock.

 

[Hasan123]

He is invincible at the moment and highly under rated, among all those names he is really standing out for me in this tournament although Root is doing pretty well as well. KW doesn't play in the strongest line up either and just holds the innings together so consistently it's remarkable

He's not underrated. He is seen as one of the best batters in the world. That's not under rated.

 

[Hasan123]

Williamson has been excellent in this tournament. But I would expect him to dominate these teams. The real test is from when they play Australia and England, then the knockouts.

 

[The Viper]

Have a short third man for him always. You will soon inside edging the ball on to the stumps. If you block his go to shot of tap to third man, you can stifle him.

He does tend to play that shot to third man a lot. I wonder why teams haven't tried this field setting then.

 

[Phantom Menace]

Kane is a superb player but as far as this world cup goes I worry about him in the knockout stages. I think he can get runs but he is a bit too conservative. If we lose early wickets he remains risk averse for a bit too long. Consolidating against an early onslaught and being 4(19) is fine but in knockout matches it often seems to turn in to something like 31(70) with intent to catch back up when should already being catching up with something like 46(70)

 

[Arsalan Pro]

He is very reliable, smart and calm under pressure, not to forget he is the best captain currently present in world of cricket, surely is best from New Zealand along with being one of the best in the world.

 

[PakLFC]

A very good albeit underrated batsman. By the end of his career Williamson will be the best Kiwi batsman ever.

 

[Sin Nombre]

Every big name ODI player has batted well in this tournament on true batting surfaces be it Rohit or Kohli, Root, KW, Finch or Warner, and even Shakib.

4 players are averaging above 50 at a S/R of >100 --> Shakib, Finch, Morgan or Kohli.

KW is still to prove he can bat quick when needed unlike almost every other player mentioned above bar Root.

 

[hafizexpress]

Wow went from underrated to being overly hyped in this thread.

He's brilliant, cunning, and consistent; but he's not better than Kohli, and he's not better than Root.

 

[Rayyman]

If Imam had made 148 off 154 balls, people would have slammed him for batting too slow. But since it's Williamson, what an incredible knock.

Because he would do that 370 pitch leading Pakistan to a defeat.

KW won the game.

Wow went from underrated to being overly hyped in this thread.

He's brilliant, cunning, and consistent; but he's not better than Kohli, and he's not better than Root.

Root?!?

 

[pratiktc]

He has single handedly won 2 somewhat critical games for NZ in this WC.
So far best of Big 5 in this WC followed by Warner, Root, Kohli and distantly by Smith

 

[The_Odd_One]

In my opinion, he's the best captain in the world right now. Getting good results with an average team and leads from the front with his own performance.

He has played some really clutch knocks in the last 12 months. A performing captain uplifts his team with his own performance.

 

[JaDed]

Wow went from underrated to being overly hyped in this thread.

He's brilliant, cunning, and consistent; but he's not better than Kohli, and he's not better than Root.

He wipes the floor with Root

 

[Afhan Ali]

Second best after kohli in fab4

 

[jnaveen1980]

He does tend to play that shot to third man a lot. I wonder why teams haven't tried this field setting then.

India had that funky position in NZ and choked him. His couldn’t rotate the strike. Even NZ commies were worried about edging on to the stumps far too many times.

 

[jnaveen1980]

His plus points he reads the game very well. For the first time he showed his other side in the IPL 2018. He could step up each time his team was in trouble and also dominate the bowling methodically

 

[BDfanforever]

Take out Ferguson from NZ team, and his knocks would look pretty ordinary.

 

[volcyz]

Rohit / kohli / Warner better atm

 

[chacha kashmiri]

Gorgeous timing of the ball, really values his wicket and always manages to keep stock of the situation without looking to go high and aerial

 

[satheesh]

He would end up as the best batsman from NZL with out a doubt. Also a calm,relaxed guy irrespective of match situation.I think this has a lot to do with him coming from NZL where he would not be attacked by the masses for failures & hence he has no much pressure of high expectations.

 

[barah_admi]

The best innings of the tournament so far, real steel, grit and as I always call this man, he is the greatest test batsman of his time and he can more often than not replicate that in the ODI arena.

 

[shaz619]

He's not underrated. He is seen as one of the best batters in the world. That's not under rated.

He is under rated because he doesn't get as much praise as the others when he should on that level, the man is arguably the best without a doubt but I don't see anyone putting him on the same pedestal as often as the others

 

[Hasan123]

He is under rated because he doesn't get as much praise as the others when he should on that level, the man is arguably the best without a doubt but I don't see anyone putting him on the same pedestal as often as the others

He gets loads of praise. I don't know what you are reading. Look how much he is talked about on PP and all people ever say he is underrated. Being rated as one of the best 4 batters of this era and being touted as his countrys best batters at 28 is extremely high praise which not many players get.

 

[shaz619]

He gets loads of praise. I don't know what you are reading. Look how much he is talked about on PP and all people ever say he is underrated. Being rated as one of the best 4 batters of this era and being touted as his countrys best batters at 28 is extremely high praise which not many players get.

It's no where near enough, he deserves to be worshipped like the others. On PP he isn't talked about as much as others, those players have proper worshippers; KW doesn't, I created this thread to try and change that

 

[Hasan123]

It's no where near enough, he deserves to be worshipped like the others. On PP he isn't talked about as much as others, those players have proper worshippers; KW doesn't, I created this thread to try and change that

So being called one of best players in the world and his country best batter ever isn't praise?

 

[shaz619]

So being called one of best players in the world and his country best batter ever isn't praise?

That is praise but that is not universal praise nor is it said often enough , others enjoy more notoriety / popularity for their batting compared to KW

 

[Hasan123]

That is praise but that is not universal praise nor is it said often enough , others enjoy more notoriety / popularity for their batting compared to KW

This is a majority view. Vetorri said he will ne NZ best batter ever. So he's rated in his country.

 

[Hasan123]

That is praise but that is not universal praise nor is it said often enough , others enjoy more notoriety / popularity for their batting compared to KW

Also he is on a multi million dollar deal in the IPL and people say he is rubbish in T20s. Also he is the captain of his franchise. Not many foreign players are made captains in the IPL.

 

[shaz619]

Also he is on a multi million dollar deal in the IPL and people say he is rubbish in T20s. Also he is the captain of his franchise. Not many foreign players are made captains in the IPL.

I think in cricket he is regarded very highly and those deals reflect that, amongst fans apart from guys like us or those follow the sport very closely he isn't as popular compared to other great batsman of this era but he should be, perhaps this tournament will change that

 

[Hasan123]

I think in cricket he is regarded very highly and those deals reflect that, amongst fans apart from guys like us or those follow the sport very closely he isn't as popular compared to other great batsman of this era but he should be, perhaps this tournament will change that

Cricket is a dying game and he isn't a big personality so it's not a surprise he isn't rated highly outside of cricket. But people who follow cricket know how good this guy is.

 

[satheesh]

Second best after kohli in fab4

it has to be Smith after Kohli as of now

 

[hafizexpress]

Because he would do that 370 pitch leading Pakistan to a defeat.

KW won the game.


Root?!?

I guess with Root is more debatable, but personally I would take Root in LOis over Williamson because of his better strike rate and he has a better power game. Root is statistically also better than Williamson in LOis as well. In tests however, I would probably opt for Williamson for my team.

 

[ManFan]

Just put up a fielder at third man as soon as comes out.

He has the tendency to get bogged down in the beginning.

 

[Ab Fan]

A phenomenal cricketer and a great leader, a role-model.

He will go down as an all-time great and NZ greatest batsmen of all-time.

Right up there with Virat Kohli and Steven Smith as the best bat of this era.

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Most runs by a captain in a World Cup:<br><br>578 Kane Williamson (2019)<br>548 Mahela Jayawardene (2007)<br>539 Ricky Ponting (2007)<br>507 Aaron Finch (2019)<br>482 AB de Villiers (2015)<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CWC19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CWC19</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1150373493026054144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Joseph Gomes]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Most runs by a captain in a World Cup:<br><br>578 Kane Williamson (2019)<br>548 Mahela Jayawardene (2007)<br>539 Ricky Ponting (2007)<br>507 Aaron Finch (2019)<br>482 AB de Villiers (2015)<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CWC19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CWC19</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1150373493026054144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

And people say ABD doesn't perform in WC lol.

 

[Mamoon]

Looks like he silently assassinated his team’s chances today. Terrible innings and got out to a nothing ball.

 

[Hasan123]

If Kohli played the same knock today , you would all be calling him a choker.

 

[Xoib]

Looks like he silently assassinated his team’s chances today. Terrible innings and got out to a nothing ball.

Any expert comments on Joe root knock?

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Very well-deserved - player of the tournament Kane Williamson<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CWC19Final?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CWC19Final</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CWC19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CWC19</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1150479428574687238?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Hitman]

Happy Birthday!

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

off topic but...

 

[Ab Fan]

Kane is more clutch than kohli and Root but doesn't dominate the run-scoring the way Kohli does.

On other hand, Smith dominates as well as he has the clutch factor as well.

 

[Ab Fan]

Looks like he silently assassinated his team’s chances today. Terrible innings and got out to a nothing ball.

Considering his openers are tail-enders, it was not a poor inning.

A poor inning is the one that came in 2nd inning of that match by another elite batsmen.

 

[sweep_shot]

Kane is more clutch than kohli and Root but doesn't dominate the run-scoring the way Kohli does.

On other hand, Smith dominates as well as he has the clutch factor as well.

Smith and Kohli are generally very animated characters. Williamson prefers to stay under the radar.

In the end, all three are amazing in their own ways.

 

[MenInG]

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson is on the cusp of setting a massive milestone when he takes to the field against India in the fourth T20I of the five-match series in Wellington on Friday. The Kiwis will be playing for pride in the final two matches as India already took a 3-0 unassailable lead in the series following their thrilling Super Over win in Hamilton on Wednesday.

Williamson, who struck a masterful 95 off 48 deliveries in hus last outing, is on the verge of becoming the captain with most runs in T20Is. The right-hander has hit 1243 runs as skipper in the shortest format and is just 41 runs away from former South Africa T20I skipper Faf du Plessis, who accumulated 1273 as leader of the side.

Few would put it against Williamson to not break this record as he has been in sublime against the Indian bowlers. With 160 runs in three innings, he is the highest run-getter in the series. Williamson has also hit 12 boundaries and 10 sixes and is the only player, across teams, to have double digit counts for both fours and sixes in the series. His strike-rate of 170.12 is also the best so far.

Such has been the effect of Williamson that India captain Virat Kohli conceded that New Zealand deserved to win the match in Hamilton. The Super Over heartache returned to haunt Williamson and Co after the captain had put them within touching distance of a famous victory.

“I thought we were gone at one stage,” Kohli had said during the post-match presentation in Hamilton. “I told our coach that they deserved to win. The way Kane was batting, on 95. Feel bad for him, I know what it’s like to play those knocks when things don’t go your way.”

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cric...e-t20i-list/story-O1jAQ6USHnOAXWOCxO2ykJ.html

 

[Rayyman]

Williamson scores his runs quietly, but he scores a lot of them and in tough conditions

 

[Ab Fan]

Williamson is comfortably better than Root in all formats. Root is a statistician delight.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

His batting is so effortless and easy on the eyes, a bit like Dravid or Martyn.
Before you know it, he would have already scored a 50 with his nudges and deft touches. Had been destined for greatness ever since he debuted.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Williamson is comfortably better than Root in all formats. Root is a statistician delight.

Root used to be really good but ever since taking captaincy, he is half the guy he used to be in all formats.
Root used minimal effort to get starts and scored 70s 80s for fun but he's not been the same since 2018.

 

[Ab Fan]

Root used to be really good but ever since taking captaincy, he is half the guy he used to be in all formats.
Root used minimal effort to get starts and scored 70s 80s for fun but he's not been the same since 2018.

In a similar situation, Root would score a 70 and get out while Smith, Kohli and Kane hits century and outbats the opposition in first inning itself.

 

[JibranAnsari]

80 test matches in 10 years , hope he ends up playing more than 150 test matches.

 

[Mamoon]

Williamson is comfortably better than Root in all formats. Root is a statistician delight.

In spite of the fact that Root has been in a slump for 2-3 years, his record is still better than Williamson in most countries.

That clearly shows that during Root’s most productive years (2013-2017) he was a level above Williamson.

On current form, Williamson is certainly better. However, he get more leeway than Kohli or Root for his failures because of his persona and the ‘good guy’ image of New Zealand cricket.

Even ICC fell for it when they handed him the player of the World Cup award out of sympathy even though Stokes was by far the best player of the World Cup and was clearly robbed off the award.

 

[Robert]

Greater than Martin Crowe? I wonder. Williamson never faced Marshall, Garner, Ambrose, Walsh, Waqar, Wasim, McGrath and Warne.

 

[Robert]

Root used to be really good but ever since taking captaincy, he is half the guy he used to be in all formats.
Root used minimal effort to get starts and scored 70s 80s for fun but he's not been the same since 2018.

Root averages 50 in ODIs at s/r 91, which is better than Williamson. It’s the test captaincy that messed up his test (only) batting. England are really missing something by keeping him skipper.

 

[volcyz]

Greater than Martin Crowe? I wonder. Williamson never faced Marshall, Garner, Ambrose, Walsh, Waqar, Wasim, McGrath and Warne.

Neither did Smith/Kohli/Root
so they must not be better too

 

[BunnyRabbit]

In a similar situation, Root would score a 70 and get out while Smith, Kohli and Kane hits century and outbats the opposition in first inning itself.

Save for Smith, Root was scoring fifties in almost every inning.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Root averages 50 in ODIs at s/r 91, which is better than Williamson. It’s the test captaincy that messed up his test (only) batting. England are really missing something by keeping him skipper.

His performance in ODIs and t20s has relatively gone downhill as well especially in pressure games.
If only James Taylor had not been suffering from a horrible condition that forced him into retirement, he would have been the ideal Test captain of the team.

 

[Rana]

Unfortunately we have no answer to Kane Williamson in our Test bowling ranks at the moment. He will be the man of the series I recon

 

[Rayyman]

Just got a his 22nd Test hundred.

Kane is so good technically especially his back-foot punch.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Watching Kane Williamson bat is one of life's great pleasures.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Unfortunately we have no answer to Kane Williamson in our Test bowling ranks at the moment. He will be the man of the series I recon

You're underrating our boys. All three front-line pacers can get him out. But if he gets set on the crease then we are toast.

 

[The lone Ranger]

But he has only averaged

40 in Australia
35 in India
30 in England
26 in srilanka
21 in South Africa

I think some of the other great Newzealand batsmen might have done better than this.

 

[Rana]

You're underrating our boys. All three front-line pacers can get him out. But if he gets set on the crease then we are toast.

This is what I am worried about. I’m tired of being let down by Shaheen, Abbas and Naseem not because I think they are rubbish, but I just dont think they have the game plan to work against world class batsmen. Same goes for our ODI bowling attack.

I would dearly like Waqar Younis to one day publish some of his coaching plans, the data that he uses when he is working on bowlers so that we can see what and how he does in order to prepare our bowlers. I have a feeling that he just makes things up according to his own experience as a fast bowler in the 90s. I really am not sure that his strategies are having the desired affect on the current set of players, or he does not know how to get the best out of their strengths.

Either they are hoping to bowl some kind of magic balls to a player like Kane and see him back in the hut, or they do some sincere homework and look to create field settings that have troubled him in the past. What kind of bowlers have done well against him and where have they looked to bowl at him etc. I am not very hopeful with our current management

 

[Rayyman]

Couple of beautiful cover drives here

Gets his 3rd double hundred. Top player.