29 Apr 2016

Williamson confirmed as Black Caps captain

3:57 pm on 29 April 2016

New Zealand Cricket has confirmed Kane Williamson will captain the Black Caps in all three formats of the game.

The 25-year-old Williamson has been a member of the Black Caps since 2010 and has already led the side in 36 one-day and Twenty20 matches, including the T20 World Cup in India last month.

He is the 34th captain to skipper the New Zealand team in any full international format, and is poised to become the country's 29th Test captain, dating back to Tom Lowry in 1930.

Kane Williamson

Kane Williamson Photo: Photosport

Williamson had been viewed as the obvious successor to Brendon McCullum, who retired in February, but was understood to have wanted time to consider the role.

NZ Cricket chief executive David White said Williamson was the right man to lead the team forward.

"Kane has been a leader within the team for a long time now and already shown himself to be an extremely capable captain," said White.

"He's respected by his peers and the wider cricket community for his professional approach both on and off the field, and has a superb cricket brain... His drive to see the team succeed and his passion for the game are what you look for in a leader. He's ready for the role and will only continue to grow."

Williamson - who is currently in India playing in the IPL - said it was a challenge he was looking forward to, but one he knew he wouldn't face without a great deal of support.

"It's certainly an honour. I've really enjoyed my time spent as captain and believe this team can achieve a lot," said Williamson.

"I'm lucky to have a number of experienced players around me for support and will certainly look to utilise this. We're all striving for the same thing and that's to represent New Zealand with pride and win cricket games."

Brendon McCullum celebrates a world record test century.

Brendon McCullum. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Williamson also singled out the work done by McCullum, and praised the environment inside the changing-room.

"I've certainly learnt a lot from Brendon, as has everyone who has played with him," he said.

"The culture that he and Mike (Hesson) have cultivated has been a huge part of this team's success in recent times. We not only have good players, but good people too and that certainly makes any captain's job easier."

New Zealand's next tour will be to Africa in July-August, with the Black Caps scheduled to play two Tests in both Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Kane Williamson profile:

High school: Tauranga Boys' College

Debut: v India 2010

Number of Tests played: 48

Number of ODIs played: 93

Number of Twenty20s played: 35

Batting averages

Test: 49.23

ODI: 47.00

Twenty20: 34.53

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