Kane Williamson will step down as captain of the BLACKCAPS Test aspect, with Tim Southee to take up the management mantle. Williamson will proceed to steer the BLACKCAPS in ODI and T20I cricket and has reiterated his want to play all three codecs internationally. Southee, who has 346 internationals to his title and has led the T20 aspect on 22 events, will grow to be New Zealand’s thirty first Test captain when he leads the group on this month’s Test tour to Pakistan.

Canterbury opener Tom Latham has been confirmed as Test vice-captain, after beforehand main the aspect in Williamson’s absence.

Williamson has captained the Test group on 38 events (22 wins, 8 attracts, 10 losses) since assuming the function from Brendon McCullum in 2016.

He stated the time was proper to step again.

“Captaining the BLACKCAPS in Test cricket has been an incredibly special honour,” he stated.

“For me, Test cricket is the pinnacle of the game and I’ve enjoyed the challenges of leading the side in the format.

“Captaincy comes with an elevated workload on and off the sphere and at this stage of my profession I really feel the time is true for this determination.

“After discussions with NZC, we felt that continuing to captain the white-ball formats was preferable with two World Cups in the next two years.

“I’m excited to assist Tim as captain and Tom as vice-captain. Having performed with each of them for many of my profession, I’m assured they’re going to do a fantastic job.

“Playing for the BLACKCAPS and contributing in all three formats is my number one priority and I’m looking forward to the cricket we have ahead.”

NZC CEO David White congratulated Williamson on the way in which he is led the Test aspect.

“Kane is one of our all-time greats and our priority is to ensure he enjoys his cricket and plays for New Zealand for as long as possible.

“He’s an excellent chief and the success the group has achieved throughout his time within the longest and arguably hardest format of the sport, has been nothing in need of exceptional.

“Statistically, he’s the most successful Test captain we’ve ever had – which culminated in the team rising to the number one ICC Test ranking at the start of 2021 and the eventual victory in the ICC World Test Championship Final in June that year.”

Mr White stated Southee was the fitting man for the job.

“Tim’s a strong and tactically astute leader and has a good feel for the game. I believe he is the right person to build on the foundations that Kane’s created.”

BLACKCAPS coach Gary Stead stated Williamson had been a high quality Test captain.

“Kane’s guided the Test team through an immensely successful period which is testament to his ability to bring people together and work towards a common goal,” he stated.

“He’s certainly led from the front with his own performances and that was very much the case during our push to win the World Test Championship.

“The Test group has continued to evolve and develop throughout his time and the very fact we have been in a position to introduce new gamers and see them thrive nearly immediately is a credit score to Kane and his management.

“We hope by lessening his workload we can continue to see the best of Kane Williamson for longer on the international stage, and we know he will remain a key leader in this group.”

Stead stated the choice to nominate Southee captain got here all the way down to the route through which the Test group needed to move.

“Tim’s a quality leader with a good cricket brain,” Stead stated.

“We’ve seen his captaincy skills on display with the T20 side and I’m sure he’ll continue to bring an aggressive style, whilst still maintaining the core fundamentals of how this BLACKCAPS team operates in the Test arena.

“He may also come from a barely completely different perspective in being a bowler which I’m certain may also convey with it new concepts and contemporary considering.”

Southee, the present Sir Richard Hadlee Medal winner, stated it was humbling to be requested to steer the Test aspect.

“It’s been a surreal few days and it is only a large honour to be appointed as Test captain.

“I love Test cricket, it’s the ultimate challenge and I’m really excited by the opportunity to lead the team in this format.

“Kane’s been an impressive Test captain and I’m wanting ahead to working with Gary on how we are able to construct on that.”

The BLACKCAPS 15-player Test squad to face Pakistan will probably be confirmed in a separate media launch.

The two Test sequence begins in Karachi on December 26 and concludes in Multan from January 3.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is printed from a press launch)

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