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During his 61-run knock in the second innings of the ongoing first Test between New Zealand and England at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, Williamson completed 9000 runs in Test cricket for the Black Caps.
Kane Williamson becomes first Kiwi batter to score 9000 Test runs. (Picture Credit: AP)
Star New Zealand batter Kane Williamson created history on Saturday (November 30) by becoming the first Kiwi cricketer to score 9000 runs in Test cricket. The right-handed batter achieved the feat during the third day’s play of the ongoing first Test between New Zealand and England at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. The 34-year-old right-handed batter from Tauranga came out to bat at No. 3 for the Black Caps in the second inning and scored 61 runs from 86 balls with the help of seven fours.
During his stay at the crease on Saturday, when Williamson crossed the 26-run mark, he completed 9000 Test runs. By joining the 9000 Test run club in his 103rd match, the former Kiwi captain became the third joint-fastest batter in the world to score 9000 runs in Tests.
The record for scoring the fastest 9000 runs in Tests is in the name of former Australian captain and star batter Steve Smith. Smith, who is representing Australia in a five-match Test series against India these days, needed only 99 matches to complete 9000 Test runs. He is followed by Brian Lara, who achieved the feat in his 101st Test for the West Indies.
Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara and Pakistan’s Younis Khan are the other two batters who also completed 9000 Test runs in their 103rd match.
In terms of innings taken to complete 9000 Test runs, Sangakkara sits at No. 1 position. The former left-handed batter needed only 177 innings, whereas Williamson has achieved the feat in his 182nd Test innings for the Kiwis.
A total of seven batters—Sangakkara, Smith, Rahul Dravid, Lara, Ricky Ponting, Mahela Jayawardene, and Sachin Tendulkar—scored 9000 Test runs in fewer innings than Williamson.
Williamson, who is arguably New Zealand’s greatest batter of all time, scored a half-century in the first innings of the ongoing Test as well, but despite his twin fifties, the Kiwis are on the brink of losing the series opener against the English team.
The hosts finished Day 3’s play at 155 for 6, and they only have a four-run lead. New Zealand will kick off the fourth day’s play with the hope of scoring as many runs as possible in the second inning to set up a challenging target for the Poms.
