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“Bottle the man's blood“: Kane Williamson's class shines through as NZ bats struggle

2023-11-30T11:00+13:00

In Kane we trust. Steady the ship, Kane. Bottle the man's blood if we haven't already done it.

Test hundred number 29 and still in the 'Fab Four' with Steve Smith (32), Joe Root (30) and Virat Kohli (29). We keep saying this stuff, lauding this bloke simply because he keeps fronting up - the respect Kane Williamson holds in world cricket is right up there with the very best.

Critics marvel at his technique, his ability to play off the front and back foot, yet play the ball so late. All the greats give themselves that extra split second of time, no panic, nigh on perfect temperament.

To come through with a stuffed knee, a broken thumb, and still never look out of touch during the recent ODI World Cup was absolutely freaky. I mean, people just could not believe it.

Number 22 on the Kiwi shirt is the most popular shirt in India, outside the Indian team itself. Kohli's No. 18 and Rohit Sharma's 45 have the mortgage on that completely - but I reckon we take Kane Williamson for granted at times, we tend to do that with a lot of our greats.

We're not great at pedestals, we're not really big on those and we're not really big on heroes - it's not our thing.

You have to witness it in person to realise just how big Williamson's tag is overseas in the cricket market. And you could never accused Kane of ever blowing his own trumpet - he's the epitome of 'I'll just let my bat do my talking.'

I live for Williamson and Rachin Ravindra coming forward - I really do. The partnerships of those two players, one is a great of the game, the other potentially could be in that bracket some day. And I want them sooner rather than later.

Due to an average batting performance, Kane aside, the Blackcaps are under serious pressure against this weakened Bangladesh side. Currently at stumps after day two, New Zealand are 266/8, trailing by 44 runs.

This is not a side we should be losing to, this is not a way to start a World Test Championship campaign.

And I will echo those thoughts in regards to the White Ferns too - they should dominate Pakistan over the next few weeks and snuff them out.

Time for the youth to deliver on promise? More to the point, time for the youth to be allowed to deliver on their promise.

Catch live ball-by-ball coverage of the White Ferns as they take on Pakistan on all local SENZ frequencies and the SENZ app.

White Ferns v Pakistan:
Sunday 3 December - 1st T20 from 1pm at University of Otago Oval, Dunedin.
Tuesday 5 December – 2nd T20 from 1pm at University of Otago Oval, Dunedin.
Sat 9 December – 3rd T20 from 1pm at Sir John Davies Oval, Queenstown.

Tue 12 December – 1st ODI from 11am at Sir John Davies Oval, Queenstown.
Fri 15 December – 2nd ODI from 2pm at Hagley Oval, Christchurch.
Mon 18 December – 3rd ODI from 2pm at Hagley Oval, Christchurch.

White Ferns squad to play Pakistan:
Sophie Devine (C), Kate Anderson, Suzie Bates, Bernadine Bezuidenhout, Eden Carson (T20 only), Izzy Gaze (ODI & 1st T20), Maddy Green, Fran Jonas, Melie Kerr (from second T20 onwards), Jess Kerr, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu.

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