AUCKLAND: Kane Williamson, legendary batter and New Zealand’s former captain has announced his retirement from international cricket, putting an end to his glorious career spanning 16 years in top-level cricket.
At the age of 35, Williamson has made up his mind to quit international cricket immediately, thereby opting out of playing in the two remaining Test matches against England in the ongoing series. At present, Williamson is part of the New Zealand team playing in the series comprising three Tests.
Commenting on his decision, Williamson said that he had been thinking about retiring from international cricket for a long time now. He said that he was proud of being associated with New Zealand all through his cricket career.
Williamson quits international cricket as the most successful Test batter in New Zealand’s history with a tally of 9,515 runs in 110 Tests. His record in ODI cricket includes 7,256 runs, while in T20 Internationals, he has scored 2,575 runs.
One of the biggest highlights in his career was when he led the New Zealand team to win the first-ever ICC World Test Championship in 2021. With him at the helm, his team has reached various ICC tournament finals and semi-finals.
The head coach of the New Zealand team Rob Walter described Kane Williamson as one of the best players in the world not only as a player but as a team captain and ambassador of the game.
ICC Approves Major Changes to Cricket Rules
Earlier, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has approved changes to the rules of cricket during a recent board meeting, officials confirmed.
The decisions were made during the ICC Board meeting held in Ahmedabad, India, covering updates to cricket laws, women’s cricket and issues related to Cricket Canada.
Under the new regulations, a pink ball can now be used in Test matches in conditions of poor lighting. For illegal bowling actions, Hawk-Eye technology will be employed. Additionally, coaches will be allowed to enter the field during water breaks in One-Day Internationals (ODIs) to consult with players.
The board also decided to reduce innings breaks in T20 matches from 20 minutes to 15 minutes, while the trial law allowing league-style wide deliveries has been permanently adopted.
In a separate decision, the ICC suspended Canada’s membership in the ICC, although Canadian teams will continue to participate in international competitions.
Regarding women’s cricket, the Women’s Champions Trophy 2027 has been rescheduled to take place from 14 to 28 February, instead of the previously planned June–July window.
