Veteran Blackcap and first Test hero Kane Williamson is the greatest cricketer New Zealand has ever produced, according to commentator Scotty Stevenson.
Scoring a crucial unbeaten century on Monday against Sri Lanka and the winning run on the final ball of Day 5, it was Williamson who saved the day once again for New Zealand.
The esteemed batter now has back-to-back tons, the first coming against England where he also became New Zealand’s highest Test run scorer of all-time, surpassing former teammate Ross Taylor on the leaderboard.
Needing 257 runs from 53 overs on the final day of play, Stevenson has lauded Williamson’s composure at the crease, saying his batting was supreme in high-pressure moments.
“The way Williamson batted was just supreme,” Stevenson told SENZ The Run Home.
“I mean, the guy’s a master. He’s the greatest New Zealand’s ever produced, and I think every single one of the skills in his arsenal was on show.”
While it was Williamson who scored the winning run, he relied on number 11 batter Neil Wagner to race down the pitch with a torn hamstring, an act Stevenson found to be equally admirable.
Wagner was forced from the field due to injury on Day 3, with further scans revealing he had suffered a bulging disc and torn hamstring.
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“They made that announcement and they said he’d been ruled out, he said, ‘Look, I’m still going to bat if I’m required to,’ that’s just Neil Wagner,” he said.
“The guy’s as tough as teak, he’d do anything for that team.
“I know he’s got his share of critics and he’s had a couple of sessions over the last couple of weeks in different Test matches where his style hasn’t been as effective as he would have liked, but he’s been asked to do a different role over the last couple of weeks as well with no Trent Boult in the side and down on seamers.
“That’s I think the hallmark of Neil Wagner is it’s not about his personal stats, he’s just been asked to do something for the team and that’s what he’s going to do.
“It doesn’t matter what you ask him to do, he’ll do it with 100 per cent tenacity and I think the guy’s an absolute champion.
“He’s a delight off the park and on the park he’s just a single-minded, ruthless cricketer and there’s a lot to admire about that.”
The Kiwi quick has been ruled out of the second Test as he begins rehabilitation, replaced by experienced pace bowler Doug Bracewell.
The second Test against Sri Lanka begins in Wellington on Friday.
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