Black Caps: Will Young no longer feels like he has ‘big shoes to fill’

Will Young, filling in for Kane Williamson at first-drop, stamped his mark on India with a player of the series performance. Photo / Photosport

Will Young no longer feels like he’s filling big shoes when he comes into the Black Caps’ batting line-up. Nowadays, he’s treading his own path.

The Napier-based batter was in “shock” earlier this week when he was named the player of the series in one of the greatest test series wins of all time.

Before his Indian dream, he had effectively been New Zealand’s reserve batter, and drinks carrier, with his form never quite lifting him to an automatic selection in the line-up, which selectors have long hoped from him.

But with one of the world’s best in Kane Williamson eventually injured for all three tests, Young not only filled in, he stamped his mark on the first-drop position.

The 31-year-old batter scored 244 runs across the three tests, leading New Zealand home in a nervy chase in the first test, and then scoring back-to-back fifties on a bunsen burner in Mumbai as the Black Caps notched an unimaginable whitewash.

“Having won 3-0, never in a million years would [we] have dreamt of coming over here and winning every game,” Young said.

“Winning one game is a massive achievement and once we did that we took the confidence from that into the second game and thought, whatever they can throw at us, we can compete with these guys.”

Young said once the Black Caps got a taste of victory in the first test, they went up a gear in the second, before heading to Mumbai, where Young stepped up along with fellow Hawke’s Bay Black Cap Ajaz Patel.

“Coming to Mumbai, it was a bit strange with the series being won, but there was that extra little thing, the chance for something pretty remarkable, and we’re over the moon with it.

“Some of the guys in the group were part of the World Test Championship as well and beating India in that one-off final was obviously incredible, but to do it three times in a row and in their own conditions might even trump that.”

With so many significant performances throughout the series from his teammates, Young said he was surprised at his individual accolade.

“I felt a little bit shocked when I was first told, as there were so many contributions from both teams, but I guess that award reflects that consistency and I’m really proud of that.”

Instead of coming straight home, Young now flies with some of his teammates to Sri Lanka for some white-ball action, with two T20s and three ODIs taking place between November 10-19.

From there, a three-Test series at home to England beckons, starting in Christchurch on November 28. But with Williamson likely to be fit again, it’s again by no means certain that Young will play.

“There’s no doubt that being in and out of the side has its challenges,” Young said.

“But I was just really happy to be able to get that opportunity in the first Test and I didn’t feel like I had big shoes to fill, I was excited to go out there and show what I could do. I wanted to make the most of each and every opportunity as they came.”