New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson added another feather to his burgeoning cap by equalling Martin Crowe’s 22-year-old record for most centuries by a New Zealand player when he scored his 17th century in the 3rd Test against South Africa at Hamilton.
Williamson, who made his debut for the Blackcaps in 2010 as a 20-year-old needed just 61 Tests to get to 17 centuries. The legendary Martin Crowe, in comparison, took 77 matches to score the same number of 100s.
The 26-year-old belongs to the elite of world cricket now, and his name is taken in the same breath as India’s Virat Kohli, England’s Joe Root and Australia’s Steven Smith.
With the hosts facing the prospect of losing the 3-match series 1 – 0, the captain stood up with an inspired knock. The first Test was drawn in Dunedin while the Proteas ran away as convincing winners in the second Test at Wellington.
The visitors scored 314 in the first innings but with the help of Kane Williamson’s century, the hosts look well placed to establish a crucial lead.
Kane Williamson made his debut against India in Ahmedabad in November 2010. He wasted no time in making his mark as he became only the second ever player from New Zealand to score a century on debut with his knock of 131 in that Test. He was made the captain of the side back in 2012 and has led his side in 27 matches so far, winning 11 of them.
While Williamson is the popular choice for the most technically correct amongst the ‘big 4’, Steven Smith currently has a higher average and more centuries than the others.
At just 26, he is already regarded as New Zealand’s greatest ever batsman. He has a long way to go and can easily end up as one of the world’s greatest Test batsmen ever.
Most centuries for New Zealand in Test cricket
| Player | Matches | Runs | Average | 100s, 50s | Highest score |
| Kane WIlliamson | 61 | 5074 | 51.25 | 17, 25 | 242* |
| Martin Crowe | 77 | 5444 | 45.36 | 17, 18 | 299 |
| Ross Taylor | 81 | 6030 | 47.10 | 16, 27 | 290 |
| John Wright | 82 | 5334 | 37.82 | 12, 23 | 185 |
| Brendon McCullum | 101 | 6453 | 38.64 | 12, 31 | 302 |
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