Change in leadership: Williamson to take the Black Caps’ helm

New Zealand up against Zimbabwe in first post-McCullum Test.

BULAWAYO: New Zealand’s Test cricket team begins a fresh era under new captain Kane Williamson today, when they start a two-match series against Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club.

New Zealand’s last Test assignment took place back in February, when former captain Brendon McCullum closed his international career with a typically buccaneering century as the Black Caps lost to Australia by seven wickets in Christchurch.

His retirement has given Williamson, 25, the opportunity to create his own legacy as New Zealand’s 29th Test captain, and his record as a batsman allied with a calm demeanour has suggested that he will be more than capable.

Last year he scored 2,692 international runs across the three formats, the third highest of any player in a calendar year, and also became the sixth batsman to score 10 Test hundreds before the age of 25.

Williamson has the benefit of beginning his tenure against Test cricket’s weakest nation, who has not played a Test match since losing 3-0 to Bangladesh in November 2014.

Nevertheless, New Zealand have not forgotten the last time that they played a Test in Zimbabwe, when the hosts threatened to chase down a target of 366 and lost by just 34 runs.

“The last time we played Test cricket in Bulawayo it was well fought, so we also expect a tough series in the Test matches this time around,” said New Zealand coach Mike Hesson.

Zimbabwe will be without strike bowlers Tinashe Panyangara and Tendai Chatara, while legspinner Graeme Cremer will captain for the first time in a Test.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 28^th, 2016.

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