Kane Williamson Retires From International Cricket
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- Kane Williamson retired from international cricket effective immediately, ending a 16-year career in which he amassed 19,346 international runs — the most by any New Zealand player in history.
- Williamson captained New Zealand for eight years between 2016 and 2024, leading the Black Caps to the 2021 World Test Championship title and two ICC World Cup finals.
- The 35-year-old finishes with a Test average of 54.06 across 110 Tests — New Zealand's highest ever and the 21st highest in Test cricket history.
- Williamson scored just 18 runs across two innings in his final Test at Lord's, dismissed lbw by Josh Tongue as New Zealand lost to England by 115 runs.
- He was part of cricket's 'Fab Four' alongside Virat Kohli, Joe Root, and Steve Smith, and holds New Zealand records for international centuries (48) and double centuries (6).
- Black Caps head coach Rob Walter called Williamson "a special player and person," saying his legacy is "what he means to this Black Caps team, as well as world cricket."
Why it matters: New Zealand lose their highest-ever Test run-scorer and longest-serving recent captain mid-series against England, with Williamson stepping away on his own terms at 35 rather than through form decline. The departure leaves a batting and leadership vacuum in a side that he led to the 2021 World Test Championship crown, and the second Test at The Oval begins June 17.
