Birthday special: Kane Williamson – Five lesser-known facts about him

A batter destined to finish his career as one of the legendary figures in New Zealand cricket, Kane Williamson celebrates his birthday today. The Kiwi champion has already a plethora of achievements to his name. While he recovers from his knee injury, cricket fans around the world are hoping to see him return to action soon enough. Here are five lesser-known facts about the former New Zealand captain –

5. Logan Williamson

Logan Williamson is Kane’s twin brother. He is a few minutes younger than him. He also has three elder sisters and they are all Volleyball players. Kane’s first cousin, Dane Cleaver, has also represented New Zealand in cricket.

4. Under-19 Captain of New Zealand

Kane led his nation in the 2008 Under-19 World Cup. His team reached the semi-final of the event. They were beaten by India who were led by Virat Kohli. This New Zealand team also included the likes of Corey Anderson, Trent Boult and Tim Southee.

3. Named among Fab Four despite an average of 40

When Kiwi legend late Martin Crow included Kane among his Fab Four batters, Williamson was only averaging around 40. Then at the age of 24, he had played 34 Tests and scored 2377 runs at a modest average of 40.28. However, Crow had identified his talent and predicted him to be one of the superstars in future.

2. Celebrated his birthday during a cricket match

In 2020, Williamson’s birthday coincided with their tour to Sri Lanka. During their warm-up match against Sri Lanka Board President’s XI in Katunayake, the fans decided to celebrate Williamson’s birthday in a unique way. They brought a cake for him in the ground. During a drinks break, the NZ captain reached out to these fans and cut the cake.

1. Player of the Tournament Award – 2019 World Cup

In the ODI World Cup held in England, Williamson amassed 578 runs. While there were other batters who had outshone him, the New Zealand captain won this award basis his leadership skills. He became the first captain to lead New Zealand in a World Cup final.