New Zealander Rasheen Ravindra and Will Young celebrate after winning the first Test match between India and New Zealand at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, 2024. (PTI Image)
New Zealand has recalled Will Young to its Test squad after Kane Williamson retired from all international cricket on Friday during the ongoing series against England.Young is expected to arrive in England on Sunday and will join the squad for the remaining two Tests, the team announced on Saturday.
The call-up comes after Williamson decided to step away from international cricket despite the series continuing. The 35-year-old scored 0 and 18 in New Zealand’s defeat by England at Lord’s last week, then made himself unavailable for the remainder of the series, which resumes on Wednesday at The Oval.Williamson then announced his retirement from international cricket.Young played a key role in New Zealand winning the Test series 3-0 in India in 2024.
He was New Zealand’s second-highest run-scorer in that series, scoring 244 runs in three Tests at an average of 48.80.Meanwhile, explaining his decision, Williamson said:“I’ve thought about it for a while, but over the past few days it’s become clear that now is the time.”Williamson leaves the game as New Zealand’s leading run-scorer in Tests, the Men’s ODI World Cup and the T20 World Cup, as well as in all three formats combined since his debut in 2010.
Across formats, he scored 19,346 runs and hit 48 centuries.In Test cricket, Williamson has made 9,515 runs at an average of 54.06. His record includes 33 centuries, including one on debut against India in Ahmedabad, and six double centuries. His highest score was 251 against West Indies in 2020.Williamson has captained New Zealand in 206 of his 378 international matches. During his tenure, New Zealand won the inaugural World Test Championship in 2021 and reached the finals of the 2019 ODI World Cup and the 2021 T20 World Cup.
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Reflecting on his career, Williamson said:“I have always felt a strong drive and desire for international cricket, and I am proud to know that I gave it my all in every match I played for New Zealand. To continue with anything less would not be right.”“It’s a team I love, and I feel very lucky to have been a part of it for so long. It will always be dear to my heart. I leave feeling optimistic about the direction this group is headed. There is a huge amount of talent, and a real desire to do something special with this New Zealand team.”New Zealand will continue the England series without Williamson, with Young now set to join the squad ahead of the second Test at The Oval.
