David Warner, the former Australian cricketer, expressed his admiration for New Zealand's Kane Williamson after the latter's unexpected retirement from international cricket on Friday. Warner, who played alongside Williamson at Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), remarked, "It has been a privilege to call you a teammate, an opponent, and most importantly, a friend." Over his eight seasons with SRH, Williamson played four editions under Warner's captaincy.
In a post on Instagram, Warner celebrated Williamson's impressive career, emphasizing that while his accomplishments are noteworthy, his character is what truly stands out. He described Williamson as humble, respectful, and a genuine sportsman who inspired those around him. Warner extended his best wishes to Williamson and his family for the future, highlighting the honor of their friendship.
"Kano, it has been an absolute privilege to play alongside you and against you over the years. Your runs, records, and achievements are remarkable, but what has always impressed me most is the person behind it all. You are one of the genuinely good individuals in world cricket, humble and respectful, always playing the game in the right spirit," Warner stated.
"Whether as teammates or rivals, I cherished every moment on the field with you because you brought out the best in everyone. Congratulations on an outstanding career, mate. It has been an honor to call you a teammate, an opponent, and most importantly, a friend. Wishing you and your family all the best for whatever lies ahead," he concluded.
Williamson's retirement marks the end of an illustrious international career, during which he participated in 378 matches for New Zealand. The 35-year-old concludes as the country's leading international run-scorer, amassing 19,346 runs, which includes 48 centuries and six double-centuries, as per the New Zealand Cricket (NZC) website.
His final appearance for New Zealand was during the first Test of the ongoing three-match series against England at Lord's, where he scored a duck in the first innings and added 18 runs in the second. New Zealand ultimately lost the match by 115 runs.
As captain, Williamson led New Zealand in 40 Test matches, achieving 22 victories, 10 losses, and 8 draws, ranking second to Stephen Fleming, who has 28 wins from 80 Tests. In One Day Internationals (ODIs), he captained the team in 91 matches, securing 46 wins, 40 losses, 1 tie, and 4 no-results, again following Fleming's record of 98 wins from 218 ODIs. Williamson also holds the record for the most T20I wins by a New Zealand captain, with 39 victories in 75 matches.
