Kane Williamson. Photo / Alan Gibson
Martin Guptill believes New Zealand No 3 Kane Williamson is on track to become one of New Zealand's best players.
Guptill might have been the man who scored his second hundred of New Zealand's tour of Zimbabwe on day one of their one-off test match in Bulawayo overnight, but said the 21-year-old Williamson was something special.
The Northern Districts batsman made 49 in the first innings as the Black Caps closed the day on 275-3 and Williamson was run out, which looked like the only way the home side would dismiss him after his confident displays in the one-day component of the tour.
"He's a freakish talent,'' Guptill told APNZ from Zimbabwe. "He knows what he's doing with the bat. He's in a great place at the moment to be one of New Zealand's greatest batsmen ever.''
Williamson, who spent the off-season with English country side Gloucestershire, made a 69-ball ton in New Zealand's final one-dayer and averages 40.6 in first-class cricket after he made his debut for Northern Districts when only 17. He had long been touted as a future international but the New Zealand selectors were patient with him and handed him a test debut against India 12 months ago, when he made a century on debut.
Guptill and Williamson put on 75 for the second wicket at the Queens Sports Club after Black Caps' skipper Ross Taylor won the toss and elected to bat on a flat and lifeless deck.
Brendon McCullum was out early for 14 when he played on to seamer Kyle Jarvis, which brought the two young right-handers to crease and they set about building a strong total for the Kiwis.
Guptill, who was out in the final session for 109 - his second test century - to part-timer Hamilton Masakadza, said it was great to pile on more runs after a good tour so far.
"I'm just riding the wave as it goes,'' he said. "They bowled really well to us today.
"It was a bit of a relief, really. It's been a year-and-a-half since my last test hundred. It's nice to be in the middle and scoring runs. It doesn't happen every day so when you are out there you have to try and make the most of it.''
His previous century came against Bangladesh in Hamilton, when the 25-year-old smashed 189 from No 5 and he said it was frustrating to not be able to kick on to a really big hundred again.
"Just to get there and get out the way I did is pretty disappointing.''
New Zealand picked two debutants for the test - batsman Dean Brownlie and all-rounder Doug Bracewell - and Bracewell will have to get through plenty of work with the ball after coach John Wright picked only a two-prong seam attack.
Veteran Chris Martin is the other paceman in the side, which is filled out by spinners Daniel Vettori and Jeetan Patel.
Ross Taylor ended day one unbeaten on 76 and BJ Watling was on 16 and Guptill said the pitch would break up as the test wore on.
"It's already starting to show some wear and tear,'' he said. "There are already a few balls bouncing through to the keeper after day one.
"We are definitely looking at 450-500. If we can get that, it's going to be very difficult for them to put pressure on us to bat again.''