While Kane Williamson might not have put any specific date on the last time he’ll wear a black cap, he wants to be contributing to the New Zealand side for as long as he can.
More than 15 years on from his first appearance for the Black Caps, Williamson’s career at the highest level is winding down.
Since standing down from New Zealand’s captaincy - first by giving up the test role in 2022, and then the white ball job after last year’s Twenty20 World Cup - speculation has naturally mounted over just how long Williamson would remain an international cricketer.
With deals to play franchise competitions in South Africa and England, as well as a strategic advisor for Indian Premier League side Lucknow Super Giants, there is no shortage of demand for his services.
When considering the time commitments of the international game, compared to the freedom of the franchise circuit, Williamson wouldn’t be the first player to take a step back from representing his country.
At the start of the New Zealand summer, Williamson stated his future would have to come in balance with his family life. Just over a week later, he retired from Twenty20 Internationals.
Nearly two months on, speaking during the Black Caps’ third test against the West Indies on his home ground in Tauranga, Williamson’s priorities haven’t changed - family will still be the biggest factor in whatever decision he makes.
“My position is still the same,” he said. “It’s [about] the balance.
“I’ve got a young family, that takes a lot of my time and attention now. I’m still enjoying my cricket, so long as that’s at the forefront - New Zealand Cricket have been really helpful and respectful of that as well.
“Whilst I’m still here, I want to try and contribute as much as I can and give to the team as much as I can.
“There’s quite a big break post this [series], so plenty more time to weigh all these things up.”
That big break Williamson refers to is no understatement. After the West Indies series, the Black Caps won’t don the whites again until mid-2026.
While the 2025 calendar has been sparse, next year sees tours to Ireland, England and Australia, with a home series against India thrown in for good measure.
In the lead-up to facing the West Indies, it had been mooted that the series was the last chance Kiwi fans might have to see Williamson bat in the flesh.
Again, though, Williamson outlines that no decision over his future has been made.
“As you get to the latter stages, those thoughts pop into your mind,” he professed.
“But the thinking is the same still, it’s about the balance and wanting to respect the group, where it’s going and making sure I’m able to try and contribute in whatever way you can to the team.
“It’s almost series-by-series. After this, there’s a pretty large block away from the group as well.
“There’ll be more conversations [to be] had, so we’ll just cross those bridges as they come.”
Regardless of when he chooses to call time, Williamson’s impact on the Black Caps, and on cricket around the world, cannot be underestimated.
As a player, Williamson owns close to every possible batting record for New Zealand. As a captain, meanwhile, his leadership and grace in the cruellest of circumstances see him adored across the globe.
There is one statistic, though, that eludes Williamson. In New Zealand’s entire history of test cricket, no batter has crossed the mark of 10,000 runs.
Following his unbeaten 40 in the Black Caps’ second innings at Bay Oval, Williamson’s tally sits at 9461 - still 539 runs away from five-figures. What’s more, given the drastic shift in cricket towards the shorter formats, it’s incredibly likely that his tally will never be overtaken by another New Zealander.
However, Williamson has never been motivated by numbers. And asked directly what 10,000 runs would mean, Williamson outlined that, as has always been the case, playing for the team is all he cares about.
Should that mean he finishes on 9999 runs, so be it.
“For me, it’s about contributions,” he explained. “I’ve never used this team for my own personal gain.
“I know cricket is saturated in stats. But you’re wanting to go out and contribute to a team you care about.
“Whatever runs you get aren’t really yours, they’re for the team. What you end up on is whatever it is.
“There’s so many factors to that: there’s the amount of games you play, amount of opportunities that you get to bat.
“That’s not really why I love the game. For me, it’s about continuing to commit to the reasons why I love it, that’s being part of a group and trying to contribute as much as you can.”
Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.