'Black Caps captain is a great player, a top-class sportsman and humble too'
Friday 23 March 2018 08:18, UK
Kane Williamson's adaptability is the key to his record-breaking batting achievements, says Michael Atherton.
New Zealand captain Williamson overtook Martin Crowe and team-mate Ross Taylor as New Zealand's leading century-maker of all time when he reached his 18th ton in his 64th Test on day two of the first Test against England, at Eden Park.
Sky Sports commentator Atherton, who struck 16 hundreds for England in 115 matches, says the 27-year-old's versatility earmarks him for greatness.
"Batting is about adapting to conditions and the situation in front of you, as well as technique and how strong you are mentally - but essentially it is about fashioning your game according to the bowlers who are bowling at you, the fields that are set and the pitch that is in front of you," said Atherton.
"If you can put all of the ingredients that you have in your game and adapt to your surroundings, you will probably be a very good player in the end, and that's what I see with Kane Williamson.
"He plays across all three formats - T20, 50-over, Tests; I've seen him play in all kinds of conditions, on turning pitches on the subcontinent, on swinging and seaming conditions in New Zealand and England - and he gets runs wherever and whenever he plays.
"So he's a top-class all-round player. Comparisons are odious; you'd probably say the late, great Martin Crowe was more of a stylist and maybe a bit more easy on the eye, but in terms of know-how, nous and getting runs on the day it's very hard to look past this man.
"The other thing that I like about him - and most New Zealand cricketers and sportsmen in general - is that they seem humble, regular guys.
"I don't know him personally but the impression you get is of a great player, a top-class sportsman but someone who is pretty grounded, whose values are good and that's a good combination."
Former New Zealand wicketkeeper Ian Smith, on commentary when Williamson reached his milestone century, says his compatriot's chances of adding to his three-figure tally could be enhanced if he gave up playing Twenty20 cricket.
"A lot of people said 'don't make him captain - just let him be Kane Williamson, this productive batsman' because in the past it can damage you, with all the other things going through your mind.
"A times I thought it might have but overall I don't think it has; he shouldered the captaincy across all three forms.
"We've just had a great debate about whether he should be playing Twenty20 cricket - does he need to? Financially, they all want to.
"Outside of that, would it be worth buying him out of his IPL contract to concentrate on New Zealand 50-over and Test cricket? I would say yes, it's a good investment.
"I guess T20 could make him a more expansive player but when I see an innings like this one, I don't see any IPL in it."
Live coverage of the first Test between New Zealand and England continues on Sky Sports Cricket and across our digital platforms.
