He is the quiet achiever of the New Zealand cricket side who lets his bat do all the talking.
Black Caps player Kane Williamson. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Now the world's cricket pundits are lining up to laud Black Caps No3 Kane Williamson and his likely role at the Cricket World Cup, which starts tomorrow when New Zealand play Sri Lanka in Christchurch.
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Williamson has averaged close to 75 in recent one-day internationals, scoring at a very handy clip.
Aged only 24, many are picking him to be a commanding force at the tournament.
Here is what the pundits have said about him:
- Russell Jackson, The Guardian: "He's been batting out of his mind for so long now that it's hard to believe this isn't just his level. He has barely missed a beat in 18 months and this tournament could confirm him as a superstar."
- Andrew Alderson, cricinfo: "The 'Mr. Cricket' moniker already belongs to Australia's Michael Hussey, but if there was a New Zealand franchise, it would be Kane Williamson's."
- Tony Mogan, The International Business Times: "If New Zealand are to end their World Cup hoodoo on their own turf this month then surely Kane Williamson is the man to help them do it."
- Richard DSouza, Cricket Country: If [Williamson] continues in this fashion, he will guide New Zealand to the top and others may not even realise anything struck them… He's still too young to bear the title of legend, but he's sneaking towards it silently but unnoticeably fast.
- Rory Marsden, Bleacher Report: "In Williamson they have the type of player who could push them on towards World Cup glory."
- David Hughes, The Independent: "Williamson is the most consistent performer in a dangerous New Zealand batting line-up, his devastating form in all forms of cricket cementing his reputation as one of the most exciting, talented batsmen in world cricket."
- N. Sudarshan, The Hindu: "In red-hot form in the lead-up to the World Cup, Williamson is one of the reasons why the Kiwis are among the title contenders."