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McCullum gushes over Williamson’s Test tenure, endorses “free-spirited” Southee

2 years ago

Former Blackcaps captain Brendon McCullum has spoken on the bittersweet end to Kane Williamson’s journey as New Zealand’s Test captain.

The two captains led with polarising techniques - McCullum as an aggressor, Williamson with an understated confidence - but after 2,422 days in charge, the now-England coach says his successor has left the black blazer in a better place.

Across his reign, Williamson achieved an average of 57.43 with 22 wins in 40 Test matches, second only to West Indies legend Brian Lara (57.83).

While his relinquishment somewhat surprised McCullum, he says he understands why New Zealand’s most successful Test captain has stepped away from the role, commending him for all he has achieved throughout his tenure.

“I didn’t think Kane was ready to step away just yet even though there’d been a couple of conversations recently,” McCullum told SENZ Breakfast.

“He sort of was trying to work out how to relax his workload a little bit.

“But I guess there’s two parts to it: one is I think Tim Southee will do a fabulous job and he’ll get all the support in the world from Kane as a foot soldier now, just as Tim gave everything that he could as a foot soldier to Kane in his captaincy.

“I think the second part is what an amazing job Kane did as captain of the Blackcaps for as long as he did.

“He took the Blackcaps to unprecedented success, he brought so much consistency of high performance (in) that side, right throughout all forms of the game he’s achieved so much.

“He's done it in such an understated kind of a Kane Williamson, relaxed manner and I think he’s been able to inspire fans not just from New Zealand to play cricket but also around the world there’s lots of people who consider Kane Williamson’s Blackcaps side as their second favourite team because of how they carry themselves and what they achieve.

“He’s left the cap in a much better place, or the blazer as it is, when it comes to the New Zealand captaincy position. He’s left the blazer in a better position than he found it, which was obviously off me.

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“He’s done a remarkable job and I look forward to sitting down with him at some stage and opening a nice bottle of wine and toasting to everything that he’s achieved.”

Williamson’s decision has paved the way for esteemed paceman Tim Southee to take the reins, McCullum expecting New Zealand’s third-highest wicket-taker in history to lead with an aggressive and free-flowing brand of cricket.

“I think he’ll do a fabulous job,” McCullum added.

“I think it’s a really good appointment, to be honest. I know obviously I’m on tour elsewhere and we’re going to come up against New Zealand in six weeks’ time or something but I think it’s a really good appointment.

“(I’m excited to watch) how Tim goes about it because he’s got a very aggressive cricketing mind as well and he’ll want to play the game in a free-spirited way too so it’ll be fascinating.

“It’s exciting albeit there’s a tinge of sadness for New Zealand as well.”

Southee has led the Blackcaps in 22 T20 internationals and has served as Williamson’s deputy alongside opener Tom Latham over several years.

Latham will continue his deputy status under Southee’s tenure, heading into their first Test together on December 26 when they take on Pakistan in Karachi.

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