Kane Williamson scored his 29th Test century on day two of the first Test between Bangladesh and New Zealand, drawing level with Don Bradman and Virat Kohli on the all time list. It’s the continuation of a run of incredible form for the world’s No.1 Test batter.
No other New Zealand batsman scored more than 50 runs on the second day in Sylhet. Williamson managed 104 runs in almost five hours at the crease, forcing the Bangladesh bowlers into the dirt and gradually reducing the lead. It was his fourth Test innings for Bangladesh and first since 2013. He surpassed his 50 points in all four of these times, and two of those times he reached triple digits.
Williamson’s success in Bangladesh has reached ten years, but his recent achievements are even more impressive. In his last five Test innings, he scored 573 runs against three different teams, including three centuries and a double hundred. His first was a score of 132 against England in Wellington, which gave New Zealand a thrilling victory. The double against Sri Lanka was part of a 363-run partnership with Henry Nicholls and became New Zealand’s second-highest ever third wicket in a Test match.
In the last three years, Williamson averaged 79.63 runs in Test matches and scored eight centuries, including four doubles. This average was significantly higher than anyone else who played at least 10 Tests during this period, the second highest being Harry Brook (62.15). Only Joe Root (13) has scored more centuries in the same period, having pitched almost three times as many innings as Williamson.
Kane Williamson in the last three years in Test cricket:
Games: 15Hundreds: 8 (including 4 doubles)Average: 79.63href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/BANvNZ?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc ^tfw” ># BANvNZ pic.twitter.com/KybiFbXmy5
– Wisden (@WisdenCricket) 29. November 2023
Since 2020, his performances with the Test Whites have been inconsistent due to a recurrence of injuries. However, it is clear that this has not affected his scoring consistency. As the Fab Four become increasingly fractured due to inconsistencies in age, form and timing, Williamson has cemented his place at the top, usually under the radar in friendlies.
Proof of this is Williamson’s away record over the past three years. Before the pandemic, Williamson’s place at the top was always somewhat undermined by away results. In all countries other than New Zealand except Australia, the average was less than 40. But since 2020, things have changed. During this time, he averaged 48.45 points on the road and an incredible 111.8 points at home.
While there is no denying that he is a modern-day Test hitter, both his pre- and post-appearance statistics over the last three years, it is worth considering where he fits into the bigger picture .
Only Steve Smith, Kumar Sangakkara and Jacques Kallis have higher batting averages and more RBIs than Williamson (55.61 and 8,228). When it comes to batsmen with more centuries and higher batting averages, only those three, plus Bradman and Gary Sobers, have done better than Williamson.
It’s hard to see what more Williamson can achieve in testing. He lifted the World Test Championship trophy as captain but then stepped back from leading the team. He is New Zealand’s all-time leading Test run scorer and century maker with a higher average than any of his compatriots. However, given the ease with which he is currently scoring runs, it is scary how much he could stand out from other players if he decides to enter international cricket.
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