New Zealand cricket icon Kane Williamson shocked the cricketing world as he announced his retirement from international cricket with immediate effect.
It was back in 2010 that a young Williamson first pulled on the Black Caps shirt, and what followed was nothing short of extraordinary. Having already stepped away from T20 internationals back in November, he has now decided to close the chapter on international cricket altogether. In his own words, the time was simply right, and while that may be true, there will never quite be another like him.
Kane Williamson retired as his country’s greatest ever run-scorer
Kane Williamson brings the curtain down on one of New Zealand’s most successful cricketers. Williamson played 378 international matches across all formats, leaving a legacy that will be celebrated forever. The 35-year-old retired as his country’s greatest ever run-scorer, having accumulated a staggering 19,346 international runs, laced with 48 centuries and six magnificent double-centuries.
“I’ve thought about it for a while, but over the last few days it’s become clear that now is the right time. I’ve always felt a strong drive and hunger for international cricket, and I take pride in knowing I gave it everything in every match I played for New Zealand.”
“Continuing with anything less wouldn’t be right, and I feel fortunate to be able to step away on my own terms.
“I leave feeling optimistic about where this group is heading. There’s a huge amount of talent and a genuine desire to achieve something special with this New Zealand team.”
“It’s a team I love, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have been part of it for so long. It will always hold a special place in my heart.”
"It's a team I love and it's so dear to my heart"
Thank you for the memories, Kane 🖤🤍 pic.twitter.com/u1qBOMEfzy
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) June 12, 2026
He played a total of 110 Test matches and scored 9,515 runs at an average of 54.06 and a strike rate of 51.97, which featured 33 centuries, and his highest score was 251. Williamson’s ODI career was equally impressive as he scored 7,256 runs in 175 matches at an average of 48.69, laced with 47 fifties and 15 tons.
Kane Williamson : The captain who led by example
Kane Williamson captained the Black Caps in 206 matches – 40 Tests, 91 ODIs, and 75 T20Is from 2012 to 2024 – this period was regarded as New Zealand’s golden period. Under his captaincy, New Zealand won the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship in 2021 after beating India in Southampton. Williamson also led the side to the ICC ODI Men’s ODI World Cup Final in 2019, which they lost by a narrow margin. However, he won the Player of the Tournament.
At 35, Williamson brings the curtain down on a glittering international career as New Zealand’s sixth-most capped men’s cricketer, a four-time Sir Richard Hadlee Medal recipient, and the ICC Men’s Test Player of the Year in 2019.
