ZCZC
BSP-02
CRICKET-NZL-WIS-WILLIAMSON,LEAD
NZ captain Williamson to face Windies despite imminent childbirth
WELLINGTON, Dec 10, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – New Zealand captain and batting
mainstay Kane Williamson confirmed Thursday he will play in the second Test
against the West Indies in Wellington despite the imminent arrival of his
first child.
Williamson had the Black Caps sweating on his availability for the start of
the match Friday after leaving the squad to take a 500-kilometre trip home to
Tauranga to be with his wife.
He had previously said the baby was due “mid-to-late December”. Cricket
does not allow for substitutions if he had to leave during the Test.
New Zealand coach Gary Stead said Williamson, who had been given until the
end of the day to make a decision, had confirmed mid-afternoon he was
“confident” of taking his place in the side.
Williamson, ranked the second-best batsman in the world behind Australian
Steve Smith and equal with India’s Virat Kohli, provided the backbone of New
Zealand’s comprehensive innings victory in the first Test with an epic
career-best 251.
Stead said there had been no pressure on Williamson to play as New Zealand
look to extend their 14-Test home unbeaten streak.
“We want to support Kane and Sarah in the decision they come to, and
whatever way he chooses to go we will support him in that,” Stead said
shortly before Williamson confirmed he would play.
“They’re the two sitting there with the decision in front of them.”
Stead said the only issue still to be resolved following Williamson’s
decision was whether to replace all-rounder Daryl Mitchell with spinner
Mitchell Santner in an otherwise unchanged side.
BSS/AFP/RY/08:40hrs