Cricket: Aussies rave over Kane Williamson

Australians tend not to shower New Zealand cricketers with praise.

Richard Hadlee was an exception, Martin Crowe too. Other than that, by and large, they're given credit for possessing doughty, scrapping qualities as distinct from purring over their class.

As Kane Williamson was compiling his brilliant 140 in the first test at the Gabba, Australian scribes lifted their noses out of the racing pages and watched and raved over his performance.

The focus here tends to be on what Australia have done, either good or poor, much less so on what the opposition are producing. This was different.

So Allan Border's assertion that Kane Williamson would be the batsman he'd choose right now to bat for his life was surprising.

Not because Williamson, on the back of his accumulated record in the last couple of years, isn't in the highest class of international batsmen; just that he's from the other side of the Tasman.

''Over (world No 1) AB de Villiers; in front of (Australian captain) Steve Smith, in front of (David) Warner, in front of all of them," Border said yesterday.

At the same age, Williamson has already scored more runs than the legendary Don Bradman while batting at No 3.

Former Australian captain Border was effusive on Williamson's technique, and his comfort against both spin and pace bowling.

It was a seriously big rap but as New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum quipped last night, Williamson 'won't even know what's going on".

''He doesn't get too carried away when people write good stuff about him."

Athletes often remark that they don't read what's being written about them. Most often they're telling porkies, although the word from within the New Zealand camp is Williamson rarely pores over the pages for his name.

In New Zealand's case in Brisbane, much of it was grim reading, Williamson the notable exception. Any sentence starting ''This Kiwi mob" is never going to end well.

''I agree with Allan Border. He's one of those guys I'd want to bat for my life," McCullum said.

''Not just because of how good a player he is. He's one of those guys (for whom) the circumstances of the situation don't faze him. I'm pleased he plays for us."