Cricket: Blackcaps captain warns more run-scoring heroics to come from Kane Williamson as Australia arrive

As he continues to score runs at will, Blackcaps batter Kane Williamson's recent form adds more weight to the argument of his place among the best the sport has ever seen.  

Williamson's unbeaten 133 on the final day against South Africa in Hamilton took him to the mark of 32 test centuries in 172 innings - beating the previous record of Australia's Steve Smith by two.  

What's more, the 33-year-old's latest century was his fifth in the fourth innings of a test match. And while Pakistan's Younis Khan also has five, no batter in the history of the game has more.  

From his 98 tests, Williamson has 8666 runs at an average of 55.90. 

Since giving up the Blackcaps' test captaincy at the end of 2022, Williamson has scored 844 runs at an average of 56.26.  

In that time, Williamson has scored seven centuries – two of them doubles.  

In fact, not since February 2020 has Williamson been dismissed for less than 100 after passing a half-century.   

His Blackcaps teammates have never taken for granted Williamson's role in winning test matches and series.  

But that form, which led New Zealand to a first test series win over the Proteas on Friday, has only added to the admiration of his peers.   

"He gets into his batting bubble, I guess it's his happy place," said test captain Tim Southee. "We sort of joke about it, that he doesn't like spending time with us – he'd rather spend it out in the middle.  

"But just his pure hunger for batting, his pure love for batting, not only in the middle but the time he spends in the nets, he's always looking at ways to improve his game.  

"There's no fluke that he's as good as he is, he trains as hard as I've ever seen. He hits more balls than anyone I've ever seen.  

"He just gets into that zone, he's a guy you want in your team. That's what, his seventh hundred in his last seven test matches or something ridiculous?  

"But for over 10 years, he's been an incredible member of the side. He's one of our greats, and there's still plenty more to come."  

As far as the Blackcaps are concerned, "more to come" will hopefully start against Australia later this month.

For the first time since 2016, Australia are on Kiwi shores for a two-test series, at both the Basin Reserve and Hagley Oval in Wellington and Christchurch respectively.  

It will take far more than just Williamson's runs if New Zealand are to end a wait for a series win over Australia that dates back to the 1989-90 season.   

But while coach Andrew McDonald acknowledged Williamson's golden run, Australia know they have the firepower to be unchallenged by what the Blackcaps will bring.  

"It's one of the challenges it presents," McDonald told Newshub of stopping Williamson.   

"He's in fine form, 130-odd not out to steer his team home is pretty familiar now.  

"[He's got] 32 test hundreds, so we're going to have a great challenge there.  

"But in saying that, we've got some quality players on our side, quality batters, and a formidable bowling attack that will look to exploit conditions over here."  

Of his modern contemporaries, Smith, Joe Root of England and India's Virat Kohli, none have more centuries than Williamson.  

The only fact seemingly able to stop Williamson from claiming the outright tag of the best of his era is that he plays fewer tests than the other three.

While he debuted in 2010, Williamson has so far played just 98 tests for the Blackcaps.  

Smith, who also debuted in 2010, has played 107 tests for 32 centuries, even with a one-year ban for his role in Australia's sandpaper scandal of 2018.  

Kohli debuted in 2011, but has played 113 tests and scored 29 centuries, while Root debuted in 2012, and has the most matches of all - currently in his 138th for 29 hundreds.

As he continues to score runs at will, Blackcaps batter Kane Williamson's recent form adds more weight to the argument of his place among the best the sport has ever seen.  

Williamson's unbeaten 133 on the final day against South Africa in Hamilton took him to the mark of 32 test centuries in 172 innings - beating the previous record of Australia's Steve Smith by two.  

What's more, the 33-year-old's latest century was his fifth in the fourth innings of a test match. And while Pakistan's Younis Khan also has five, no batter in the history of the game has more.  

From his 98 tests, Williamson has 8666 runs at an average of 55.90. 

Since giving up the Blackcaps' test captaincy at the end of 2022, Williamson has scored 844 runs at an average of 56.26.  

In that time, Williamson has scored seven centuries – two of them doubles.  

In fact, not since February 2020 has Williamson been dismissed for less than 100 after passing a half-century.   

His Blackcaps teammates have never taken for granted Williamson's role in winning test matches and series.  

But that form, which led New Zealand to a first test series win over the Proteas on Friday, has only added to the admiration of his peers.   

"He gets into his batting bubble, I guess it's his happy place," said test captain Tim Southee. "We sort of joke about it, that he doesn't like spending time with us – he'd rather spend it out in the middle.  

"But just his pure hunger for batting, his pure love for batting, not only in the middle but the time he spends in the nets, he's always looking at ways to improve his game.  

"There's no fluke that he's as good as he is, he trains as hard as I've ever seen. He hits more balls than anyone I've ever seen.  

"He just gets into that zone, he's a guy you want in your team. That's what, his seventh hundred in his last seven test matches or something ridiculous?  

"But for over 10 years, he's been an incredible member of the side. He's one of our greats, and there's still plenty more to come."  

As far as the Blackcaps are concerned, "more to come" will hopefully start against Australia later this month.

For the first time since 2016, Australia are on Kiwi shores for a two-test series, at both the Basin Reserve and Hagley Oval in Wellington and Christchurch respectively.  

It will take far more than just Williamson's runs if New Zealand are to end a wait for a series win over Australia that dates back to the 1989-90 season.   

But while coach Andrew McDonald acknowledged Williamson's golden run, Australia know they have the firepower to be unchallenged by what the Blackcaps will bring.  

"It's one of the challenges it presents," McDonald told Newshub of stopping Williamson.   

"He's in fine form, 130-odd not out to steer his team home is pretty familiar now.  

"[He's got] 32 test hundreds, so we're going to have a great challenge there.  

"But in saying that, we've got some quality players on our side, quality batters, and a formidable bowling attack that will look to exploit conditions over here."  

Of his modern contemporaries, Smith, Joe Root of England and India's Virat Kohli, none have more centuries than Williamson.  

The only fact seemingly able to stop Williamson from claiming the outright tag of the best of his era is that he plays fewer tests than the other three.

While he debuted in 2010, Williamson has so far played just 98 tests for the Blackcaps.  

Smith, who also debuted in 2010, has played 107 tests for 32 centuries, even with a one-year ban for his role in Australia's sandpaper scandal of 2018.  

Kohli debuted in 2011, but has played 113 tests and scored 29 centuries, while Root debuted in 2012, and has the most matches of all - currently in his 138th for 29 hundreds.

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