Kane Williamson recorded his highest Take a look at rating of 251 on the second day of the primary Take a look at in opposition to West Indies, however mentioned that it hadn’t been straightforward getting there. The bowlers have been “making life actually tough” for him, he mentioned after the day’s play, and “attempting to stay to my plans for lengthy durations of time” did the trick for him.
“Actually, West Indies’ bowlers stored coming again and bowling heavy into the floor and making life actually tough,” Williamson mentioned at a press interplay. “We could not get a lot momentum with the bat, however we managed to combat our approach by way of a few of these powerful durations, which was actually pleasing. I suppose if you have a look at the hole between Take a look at cricket that we have had, that is a pleasant factor.”
The hole Williamson referred to was as big as 9 months. New Zealand’s final Take a look at, against India in Christchurch, had ended on March 2 earlier than Covid-19 ensured an extended hiatus. That, plus shifting from T20s – he was final in motion for the Sunrisers Hyderabad within the IPL – to Exams, and the truth that the West Indies bowlers received respectable motion could not have been straightforward to take care of. However the New Zealand captain made it work.
“I suppose when it is wanting like that [green pitch], you’re going to anticipate some motion – and there was [movement] – and you’ll’t management the floor,” Williamson mentioned. “For me, it was simply attempting to stay to my plans for lengthy durations of time and hope that if you get good balls, you may miss them or they could maybe go down somewhat than to the slips.
“I believe that was form of the massive a part of that [innings] and in direction of the tip of my innings, [I was] taking part in and lacking a little bit bit. There was a little bit bit [of movement] there, however the floor was definitely getting a bit higher [to bat on] coming into right this moment. However I used to be simply attempting to remain disciplined and follow my plan for so long as I might.”
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One of many notably spectacular points of Williamson’s innings was how properly he executed the pull shot, which he put right down to dealing properly with “steep bounce and a very thick layer of grass [on the pitch]”.
“And in addition with the motion that was there, I nonetheless felt that the ball that brings the pads, the stumps and the slip cordon [into play] remains to be maybe essentially the most harmful,” he mentioned. “So [I was] attempting to negate that a little bit bit. It was good to construct partnerships all through, particularly on a floor like that [where] it was fairly tough to begin due to the steep nature of the bounce and with the little little bit of motion that was there.”
The job with the bat has been performed, with 519 for 7 declared on the board, and now it is over to the bowlers from New Zealand’s viewpoint. By the tip of the second day, West Indies had reached 49 with out loss with Kraigg Brathwaite and John Campbell within the center.
“The heavy curler went on it and flattened the grass a little bit bit extra, however I believe there’s nonetheless sufficient bounce there and swing as properly if we will be sure we construct stress,” Williamson mentioned. “I believe there’s sufficient there, however we all know West Indies have come off some Take a look at cricket they usually’ve received some variety of skilled batters of their facet. So it is not going to straightforward, but it surely’s vital we deal with what we will management and ensure we deliver quite a lot of power coming into tomorrow.”
