Northern Knights teenager Kane Williamson is keeping his feet on the ground after his surprise selection to the BLACKCAPS squad.
When questioned about the hype surrounding has call up he said, “To be honest I have not listened to much of it but I’m aware of it is going on. The focus for me is just the next game at what ever level and that is basically just keeping it simple and trying to zone out of the external things that have been going on.”
Williamson has been the standout performer in domestic cricket this year, winning the Men’s One-Day Mitre 10 MVP for his dominant all round performances and transferring that form across to the Plunket Shield where he is averaging 53.45 with the bat.
Despite all the statistics stacking up the nineteen year old BLACKCAP in waiting was still taken back, “I wasn’t expecting a call at all but I was aware that I was probably getting looked at after past performances so I was absolutely thrilled.”
“I have had a bit of contact with Mark Greatbatch to say keep going and that’s probably all that needed to be said because if you score runs you know you put your name in the hat.”
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The selection has polarised past players, media and fans but Williamson is unfazed. “I am certainly excited at the chance to play. I don’t know if it has sunk in yet, there aren’t a lot of nerves at the moment so I’m really excited to test myself at the next level and learn a lot.”
He is under no illusions that Test cricket is a completely different standard to that of the Plunket Shield, “The step up, bowlers will be more consistent and faster. The mental side will be how you handle that and hope you cope with that, sooner rather than later.”
Williamson identified some of the current Australian players as his cricketing idols along with prolific Indian run scorer Sachin Tendulkar. He was also quick to pay tribute to the senior Northern Knights players, “We have got quite an experienced side so they are very encouraging for me and my cricket. They help me keep my feet on the ground and they encourage me to be consistent with my performances.”
