Black Cap Kane does his family proud

New Zealand Black Caps batsman Kane Williamson hits the winning six to beat Australia, during the Cricket World Cup pool match between New Zealand and eventual winner Australia at Eden Park in Auckland on February 28. Photo / NZME

He is one of New Zealand's Black Cap cricketing heroes - and one of his biggest fans is his proud grandmother and former Taupo district Mayor Joan Williamson-Orr.

Joan's grandson Kane Williamson, 24, who hit a six to win New Zealand's pool match against Australia at Eden Park in February, has been named as one of New Zealand's most promising young cricket talents.

The right-hand batsman, who has a test high score of 242 not out and a one-day international average of 45.43 after 73 matches, was a key member of the heroic New Zealand Black Caps, who blasted their way to the final of the World Cup in Melbourne last Sunday.

Kane Williamson's grandmother Joan Williamson-Orr is "extremely proud."

Kane made his first-class debut in 2007 and has already amassed six ODI centuries and nine test centuries.

But with a cricketing lineage like his, it's hardly surprising young Kane grew up to become a first-class player.

His grandfather, Stuart Williamson, was a good cricketer and all of Joan and Stuart's five boys played rep cricket.

"A lot of the family say they see Stuart's skills coming through."

Kane's father Brett was also a talented hockey player, his mother Sandra a top basketballer, and Kane, his twin brother Logan and their three older sisters were all sporty. Joan says ever since he was a toddler, Kane was keen to play cricket.

"He would have a stick or a kid's toy wicket and they would throw stones or tennis balls to him and he never stopped. "

Kane's talents extended beyond cricket, with him also showing promise in basketball, soccer and rugby - almost everything he tried. He was also head boy at Tauranga Boys' College.

Joan says she's extremely proud of Kane's sporting achievements, and puts much of the credit to his family.

"They are so grounded and so humble and that's what I'm most proud of. They are just thoroughly nice kids and I think that's just as important as their achievements."

Joan sees plenty of her grandson when he's not travelling the world with cricket and says when the Black Caps slipped down to Kinloch last month for a day of golf, Kane came to see her instead of joining the game and they had a great time together.

Joan has seen Kane play live many times, most recently in Napier during the World Cup, but while she and husband Tom watched the World Cup final at home, a large contingent of the Williamson family made their way to Melbourne to support Kane.

Joan says while the result was disappointing, she's confident the team will pick itself up and says as a man who puts the team before himself, that will be important to Kane.

"He's just a quiet leader. He's quite an extraordinary young man but if you meet him and talk to him, he just gives a smile and he's humble."

However, with plenty of other grandchildren, she's quick to add that she's not singling Kane out.

"I have 18 grandchildren and I'm proud of them all."