Visa issue stumps Kane Williamson

His bat and pads have been packed for weeks, but Tauranga-based Black Cap Kane Williamson's hopes of carrying on his cricket World Cup momentum in England are being thwarted by visa problems.
Williamson signed with English county side Gloucestershire during the World Cup on a one-season deal as their second overseas player and was supposed to be in England already bolstering the John Bracewell-coached side's top order.
But the transient nature of the World Cup, where Williamson played games in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, has created a few visa headaches, leaving the 20-year-old with a frustrating wait back in New Zealand before he gets clearance to fly.
He is hopeful his visa to play in the UK will come through by next week, with Gloucestershire already into their third first-class game of the season.
"Hopefully it'll be sorted in the next week to 10 days and I'm getting anxious now to get over there and get on with it," he said.
Williamson's initial plan was to leave from India after the World Cup and fly direct to Heathrow, although the Black Caps progressing past their quarter-final and into a semifinal against Sri Lanka in Colombo threw that blueprint out the window.
"The season started on the 8th so I've missed a couple of four-dayers already, and where the plan to leave direct from the World Cup fell over was because we moved around so much, in and out of countries, which made applying for a visa almost impossible in the end.
"So much was up in the air - where we'd finish in pool play, who we were going to play in knockout and where we'd play once we won that (against South Africa) - and I was told I'd be better off filling in all the forms back in New Zealand and leaving from here.
"At least in New Zealand I knew where I'd be and knew I'd get it done, so that's all done and it's a waiting game now."
Williamson wasn't actively pursuing an off-season gig in county cricket before Bracewell came knocking via New Zealand Cricket, Williamson's employers.
Williamson, who made 131 on test debut against India in Ahmedabad last year, will play for Gloucestershire in all competitions and will be joined by Sri Lankan Muttiah Muralitharan for the Twenty20 competition.
Bracewell said the ex-Tauranga Boys' talent had a top-shelf work ethic: "He is the type of player from the Mike Hussey mould - driven to succeed through hard work and dedication and will be a great example not only to our younger players but also to some of our more senior batsmen yet to fulfil their potential."
Williamson reflected on the cup, where he was overlooked early for the playing XI before cementing a middle order spot, as a huge growth period for the national team and his own game.
"As a team we grew so much in that seven weeks, just the way we played our cricket. Most pleasing for me was the fight we showed against some of the bigger teams expected to beat us - Pakistan in conditions they were used to and South Africa, who no-one really gave us a chance against.
"Hopefully we won a few people over by not taking a backward step."
Williamson's game is prospering under coach John Wright, who is quite specific in helping re-configure the batsman's preparation for each innings.
"He planned really well at the World Cup, which gave the players a lot of confidence, but personally for me he's helping keep my role specific and accurate to what I'm likely to play in a game.
"There were a few frustrations early at not getting many games, which is part and parcel at this level, but I was aware of working hard and preparing as if I was playing, which sounds simple but isn't always when you're training in tough conditions knowing it's likely you wouldn't be playing in the next game, always the best place to measure the work you're putting in.
"Once I was selected I was expected to perform, so it was good to get out and do that in some key games."