Kane Williamson has reiterated his commitment to the New Zealand cricket team amid concerns over his future in international cricket following a shock decision to forgo a central contract for the upcoming 2024-25 season. Speaking to reporters after landing in Auckland, the now-former captain said that he was eager to continue featuring in all three formats of the game for the Black Caps as long as was ‘offering and adding value’ to the team.
“My priority still is absolutely playing for New Zealand,” the 33-year-old said. “I want to play as long as I can – I love playing for New Zealand. I’ve really enjoyed my time captaining and it’s been a privilege and an honour to do that for a number of years. Being a part of this team is so dear to me and I want to remain in that community for as long as I can, as long as I’m offering and adding value.”
Williamson followed in the footsteps of Trent Boult, another star New Zealand cricketer, who opted out of his national contract a couple of years ago to play on the franchise cricket circuit around the world. Lockie Ferguson is expected to follow suit. However, unlike Boult, who has since turned out for the Black Caps in only major tournaments and ICC events, Williamson expects to be available for a bulk of his national team commitments with the only exception coming in next year’s January window, when he hopes to feature in the third season of the SA20.
“It looks like an amazing competition,” Williamson said of SA20. “There’s a number of great competitions on during that time but SA looks really exciting. It’s a wonderful place to go and play. It’s something a little bit different.
“For me and my family at this stage of my career and the calendar that we have coming up, it’s something exciting and something to look forward to and something a little bit different, without really interfering with the international schedule. Although it’s turning down a central contract, it’s really no different in terms of the playing schedule and representing New Zealand,” he added.
Williamson is expected to be available for New Zealand’s Test tours of Sri Lanka and India later this year and will also feature in the three-Test home series against England – all eight Tests accounting for World Test Championship points. While he remained non-committal on playing the one-off Test against Afghanistan, he is expected to return to Black Caps action in early February in an ODI tri-series in Pakistan and also featuring South Africa – a build-up tournament to next year’s Champions Trophy. Effectively, he is likely to miss only six white-ball games [three ODIs, three T20Is] at home against Sri Lanka.
The star batter revealed that the decision to opt for a casual playing contract was to not be obligated to playing the domestic Super Smash T20 competition as centrally contracted players have to do during the home season.
Meanwhile, New Zealand Cricket chief executive Scott Weenink expressed hope that Williamson would remain an active international cricketer at least until 2028, when Australia and New Zealand are scheduled to co-host a T20 World Cup. Weenink also said that his star batter could even sign a central contract 12 months on, something Williamson didn’t refute.
“We see it as an absolute positive and an opportunity to prolong his career,” Weenink was quoted as saying by stuff.co.nz. “That’s what the discussion was certainly centred on. Kane has indicated to us that he hopes to play for New Zealand for a number more years which obviously we are delighted about.”
Williamson himself wasn’t keen on being drawn in to what the timelines of his international cricket future might look like. “In terms of a timeframe, it’s difficult to say. Want to keep being fit, doing as well as I can, keep trying to improve. That [2028] is a number of years away and it’s a year at a time. All major events and key series are things that whet the appetite and are an exciting prospect. They are down the line. Managing my time as well as I can after doing it for so many years is important and I know New Zealand Cricket are really supportive of that” he said.
“Naturally after major events there are always different decisions that are made and you are always looking to bring different players through, but being part of this team is so dear to me and I want to remain in that community as long as I can, and as long as I’m offering value.”