It would be wrong to say Kane Williamson looked like a guy making up for lost time on day one in Christchurch, so unhurried was the way he compiled 93 runs. Given his famous ego-free outlook, claiming it was driven by some kind of inner turmoil about missing New Zealand’s historic win in India would be a stretch too.
But with his return from a groin injury for this series opener against England nudging out Will Young – player of the series in that 3-0 triumph – it was still a timely performance. Not that anyone in New Zealand was seriously quibbling as Williamson is the country’s record run-scorer. Judging by Young’s relaxed demeanour at training during the buildup, that one-in-all-in New ealand spirit is very real.
