Fab Four loses first pillar; New Zealand batting great Kane Williamson retires from international Cricket  

WELLINGTON: Kane Williamson, one of New Zealand’s greatest-ever cricketers, has announced his retirement from international cricket. The 35-year-old leaves behind a monumental legacy, having anchored the Black Caps' batting lineup for nearly two decades. He played a pivotal role in guiding New Zealand to victory against India in the inaugural ICC World Test Championship in 2021.

Cricket enthusiasts globally regard Williamson as a member of the elite "Fab Four" of modern batting, alongside India's Virat Kohli, England's Joe Root, and Australia's Steve Smith.

Over a distinguished 16-year international career, Williamson represented New Zealand in 378 matches across all formats, amassing a total of 19,346 runs.

• Test Cricket: In 110 Test matches, he scored 9,515 runs at an exceptional average of 54.06, including 33 centuries and 38 half-centuries.
• One-Day Internationals (ODIs): He accumulated 7,256 runs in 175 matches, featuring 15 centuries and 47 fifties.
• Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is): He contributed 2,575 runs to the shortest format of the game.

Beyond his batting prowess, Williamson was a respected leader, captaining the national team in 40 Tests, 91 ODIs, and 75 T20Is.

The announcement came amidst New Zealand's ongoing tour of England. Williamson was part of the squad for the three-match Test series but endured a difficult outing in the opening match, registering scores of 0 and 18. Choosing not to feature in the remaining fixtures, the veteran batsman decided to call time on his international career immediately.

With his departure, New Zealand cricket parts ways with its most reliable modern run-machine and a widely respected ambassador of the game.