Kane Williamson has stepped down as New Zealand Test captain and been replaced by Tim Southee – but the Black Caps batsman will continue to lead his country in white-ball cricket
- Kane Williamson has resigned as New Zealand Test captain after six years
- The Black Caps batter will be replaced in the role by fast bowler Time Southee
- Williamson, 32, will continue to lead New Zealand in white-ball cricket
Kane Williamson has stepped down as New Zealand Test captain, but will continue to lead the Black Caps in white-ball cricket.
Veteran fast bowler Tim Southee will replace Williamson in the role, ending the batsman’s six-year reign in charge of the Test team.
Southee, who has led the T20 side on 22 occasions, will captain the team for the first time on the Test tour of Pakistan this month.
Kane Williamson has stepped down as New Zealand Test captain after six years at the helm
‘The captain has a higher workload on and off the field and at this stage of my career I feel the time is right for this decision,’ Williamson said in a statement.
‘After discussions with the NZC (New Zealand Cricket), we felt that continuing to captain the white-ball formats would be preferable over the two World Cups in the next two years.
‘I am excited to support Tim as captain and Tom as vice-captain. Having played with both of them for most of my career, I am confident they will do a great job.
‘Playing for the Black Caps and contributing in all three formats is my number one priority and I’m looking forward to the cricket we have ahead.’
The 32-year-old will remain captain for the one-day international and Twenty20 sides
Williamson, who scored 7368 Test match runs at an average of 52.62, enjoyed a glittering captaincy career during a golden era for New Zealand cricket.
In fact, Williamson led them to the inaugural World Test Championship in 2021 when they defeated India in the final by eight wickets.
The Black Caps’ white-ball team has also endured plenty of success during the 32-year-old’s tenure.
Under his tutelage, they reached the 2019 World Cup final and the 2021 World T20 final, before losing in the semi-finals of this year’s competition to Pakistan.
Williamson leads the Black Caps to the inaugural World Test Championship in 2021
Williamson has struggled for form over the past year but still boasts an ODI batting average of 47.68 and a T20I average of 33.29 – he is widely regarded as one of the best batsmen of his generation.
Southee, 34, played 88 Tests in his career and took 347 wickets – placing him 28th on the list of record all-time wicket takers in Test match history.
Black Caps coach Gary Stead said he hoped the move would help extend Williamson’s international career and backed bowler Southee, 34, to bring a ‘slightly different perspective’ to the role.
‘Kane guided the Test team to a hugely successful season which is testament to his ability to bring people together and work towards a common goal,’ he said.
Southee will captain the Test team for the first time during this month’s tour of Pakistan
‘We hope that by lightening his load we can continue to see the best of Kane Williamson for longer on the international stage, and we know he will remain a key leader in this group.’
Speaking about Southee’s appointment, Stead added: ‘Tim is a quality leader with a great cricket brain.
‘We have seen his captaincy skills on display in the T20 side and I am sure he will continue to bring an aggressive style, while still maintaining the fundamentals of how this Black Caps team operates in the Test arena.
‘He will also come from a slightly different perspective on being a bowler which I’m sure will also bring new ideas and fresh thinking.’
Advertisement
