Six days ago, he said about his T20 International retirement, “It’s best for me and for the team,” and now even before the start of the ODI leg of the series against the West Indies, Kane Williamson has decided to skip the contests. That is the fifty over series that features 3 games. As the BlackCaps squad was announced for the contests against the visiting Windies side, the notable absentee from the hosts’ camp was Kane Williamson. A towering but understated figure in New Zealand Cricket, Williamson has been a former captain, the best thing about Kiwi batting for over a decade, a figure of grace on the 22 yards who’s been gentle with the bat (despite punishing bowlers) and must we not forget, with mannerisms off the field. No antics, no tricks; simplicity thy name is Kane Stuart Williamson. There has hardly ever been a controversy about this cricketer who epitomises the fact that niceness and greatness can co-exist even in cricket’s hurried age. This, lest we forget, is an age where stats and entertainment often overshadow the technical discussions about real action happening on the ground.
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Having said that, bland praise minus statistics is like serving a nutritious diet, alas one where there’s no salad but ice cream.
Therefore, let us look at the numbers that Kane Williamson- dogged right hander, quiet timer of the cricket ball- has amassed in one day international cricket
| ODIs | Runs | Bat. Avg | Best Score | Strike Rate | 50s, 100s |
| 175 | 7256 | 48.6 | 148 | 81 | 47, 15 |
That being said, why Kane Williamson’s absence in the series against the West Indies be felt can be understood by the sort of record he has against the men from the Caribbean:
| ODIs | Runs | Bat. Avg | Best Score | Strike Rate | 50s, 100s |
| 12 | 487 | 40.5 | 148 | 79 | 2, 1 |
A lesson in humility?
In the 2019 ODI World Cup that was hosted- and eventually won by England- Williamson struck his personal best score in the format against no one else but the West Indies. That brilliant 148 came off just 154 deliveries after his BlackCaps side lost both its openers for naught. But in a world where the darling of the media are often more flamboyant cricketers, not necessarily as talented or gifted as the mild-mannered gent from the Bay of Plenty region, we ought to realise something. And it’s that those who have in aplenty in themselves, do not scream for attention and are even fine in being ignored from appreciation that throws light on ‘stars’ operating in the mainstream.
What do you reckon?