'He Has Been...' - Kane Williamson Opens Up On Root; Reflects On Virat Kohli And Steve Smith
Joe Root and Kane Williamson (x)
New Zealand cricket captain Kane Williamson has expressed his admiration for England's Joe Root and has lauded his remarkable consistency in Test cricket over the past few years.
Williamson acknowledged the rise of Root, who has been in scintillating form since the post-COVID era. Root’s incredible run has seen him amass 4567 runs in 49 Tests since 2021, including 17 centuries, a figure that makes up half of his total career hundreds since his debut in 2012.
Williamson Lauds Joe Root's Test Career
The former England captain is currently the top-ranked ICC Test batter with an impressive 922 rating points. Williamson admitted that Root has been exceptional in the longest format, particularly in recent years, and that he remains a big fan of the Englishman.
"You mentioned Joe Root. He has been something else for a long period. There is a lot of attention on what he might be able to achieve in a number of years, and it's just incredible that that conversion can even be had. He has been phenomenal. I have been a big fan of his. Not just him, but the other guys (Virat Kohli and Steven Smith) as well. Amazing how they have sort of moved the game forward in a big way," Williamson told reporters while praising Root in Greater Noida.
While acknowledging Root’s success, Williamson also praised Virat Kohli and Steve Smith for their significant contributions to the game.
Kohli, once regarded as the premier all-format batter, saw a slight dip in his Test form over the last couple of years. Meanwhile, Smith’s technical prowess has kept him among the top-ranked Test batters in the world.
Kane Williamson To Focus On Subcontinental Conditions
Williamson acknowledged the tough road ahead for New Zealand, with six Tests lined up in three months across different subcontinental venues. The upcoming one-off Test against Afghanistan, scheduled to take place in India, is seen as an opportunity for the team to reacquaint themselves with the unique challenges of the region.
"It will be crucial for us to get used to the conditions here, as the subcontinent always presents distinct challenges, particularly with spin and reverse swing."
Following the Afghanistan Test, they will travel to Sri Lanka for a two-Test series, set to take place from September 16 to 30. After the Sri Lankan leg, the BlackCaps face perhaps their sternest test of the tour as they head to India.