WELLINGTON — Star batsman Kane Williamson got the nod as New Zealand’s captain in all three forms of the game Thursday, replacing the retired Brendon McCullum.
Williamson has long been seen as McCullum’s heir apparent and has already skippered the Black Caps in several one-day and Twenty20 matches.
“Kane has been a leader within the team for a long time now and already shown himself to be an extremely capable captain,” NZ Cricket chief executive David White said.
“He’s respected by his peers and the wider cricket community for his professional approach both on and off the field, and has a superb cricket brain.”
Williamson, who is currently in India playing in the IPL, said he wanted to build on the achievements of McCullum, who retired in February.
“It’s certainly an honor ... (I) believe this team can achieve a lot,” he said in a statement.
Williamson led New Zealand on a giant-killing charge to the semifinals at the recent World Twenty20 tournament in India, winning praise for his bold use of spin.
Known for his calm demeanor under pressure, he made his international debut in 2010 against India.
He was named Wisden Almanack’s Leading Cricketer in the World this month after amassing 2,692 international runs across all formats last year — the third-highest annual aggregate ever.
Before his death last month, Martin Crowe singled out Williamson as the player most likely to succeed him as New Zealand’s greatest ever batsman.
He already has an average of 49.23 from 48 Tests, including 13 centuries, and averages 47.00 from 93 one-dayers.
His Test figures include a career-best 242 not out against Sri Lanka in Wellington last year to give the Black Caps a stunning come-from-behind victory.
Coach Mike Hesson said he did not believe the captaincy duties would prove a distraction for Williamson at the crease.
“He’s got that ability to go into his little bubble when he bats and hopefully we can keep that,” he said.
The Black Caps’ next tour in is August, when they go to Zimbabwe and South Africa.
‘Get used to pink-ball Tests’
Players and traditionalists need to accept pink-ball Tests or the five-day format will not survive, New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White warned Thursday.
Australia and New Zealand played the inaugural day-night Test in Adelaide last year, attracting huge crowds to rival those at limited-overs versions of the game.
But players from both sides complained about the pink ball, intended to be more visible under floodlights, and some conservatives felt it undermined a Test tradition dating back to 1877.
White said there was strong enthusiasm for more day-night Tests at a meeting of the International Cricket Council board in Dubai last weekend.
He said there was also a groundswell of support from fans and television broadcasters, expressing confidence that players would eventually come around.
“I think the players will be very supportive going forward, (day-night Test cricket) is essential for the survival of the format, to be honest,” he told Radio Sport.
White said day-nighters would never dominate Test cricket but he could envisage a time when most series included a match played under lights.
