Kane Williamson is stepping down as New Zealand Take a look at captain, however will proceed to steer the group in white-ball cricket.
Tim Southee will succeed Williamson as skipper of the red-ball group, beginning with this month’s upcoming tour of Pakistan, with Tom Latham being named vice-captain.
Batter Williamson has led the Blackcaps since 2016 when he took over from now-England Take a look at head coach Brendon McCullum and can proceed to symbolize New Zealand in all three codecs, however desires to give attention to the upcoming restricted overs World Cups on the subject of captaincy.
“Captaining the Blackcaps in Take a look at cricket has been an extremely particular honour,” Williamson stated. “For me, Take a look at cricket is the head of the sport and I’ve loved the challenges of main the aspect within the format.
“Captaincy comes with an elevated workload on and off the sphere and at this stage of my profession I really feel the time is true for this choice. After discussions with NZC, we felt that persevering with to captain the white-ball codecs was preferable with two World Cups within the subsequent two years.
“I am excited to assist Tim as captain and Tom as vice-captain. Having performed with each of them for many of my profession, I am assured they will do an important job.
“Taking part in for the Blackcaps and contributing in all three codecs is my primary precedence and I am wanting ahead to the cricket now we have forward.”
Captaincy comes with an elevated workload on and off the sphere and at this stage of my profession I really feel the time is true for this choice. After discussions with NZC, we felt that persevering with to captain the white-ball codecs was preferable with two World Cups within the subsequent two years.
In 40 Exams beneath Williamson’s captaincy, New Zealand have gained 22, drawn eight and misplaced 10, together with guiding them to a conquer India final yr to clinch World Take a look at Championship glory.
He averaged over 57 with the bat throughout his time main the aspect and earned the praises of New Zealand head coach Gary Stead following his choice to step down.
“Kane’s guided the Take a look at group via an immensely profitable interval which is testomony to his means to convey individuals collectively and work in the direction of a typical objective,” Stead stated.
“He is actually led from the entrance together with his personal performances and that was very a lot the case throughout our push to win the World Take a look at Championship.
Tim Southee is taking on as New Zealand Take a look at captain
“The Take a look at group has continued to evolve and develop throughout his time and the very fact we have been capable of introduce new gamers and see them thrive virtually immediately is a credit score to Kane and his management.
“We hope by lessening his workload we are able to proceed to see the most effective of Kane Williamson for longer on the worldwide stage, and we all know he’ll stay a key chief on this group.”
Southee will change into the thirty first captain of the New Zealand Take a look at group and the primary specialist tempo bowler to imagine the position on a everlasting foundation since Harry Cave skippered the 1955 tour of Pakistan and India.
The 34-year-old has already captained the Blackcaps in 22 T20 internationals, profitable 13 and dropping 9, and is worked up by the problem of main the Take a look at group.
“It has been a surreal few days and it is only a large honour to be appointed as Take a look at captain,” Southee stated. “I really like Take a look at cricket, it is the last word problem and I am actually excited by the chance to steer the group on this format.
“Kane’s been an impressive Take a look at captain and I am wanting ahead to working with Gary on how we are able to construct on that.”
