“I am just trying to improve my game all the time and adapt to what’s in front of me”
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
New Zealand batsman Kane Williamson has announced that the Blackcaps’ 307-run lead against the West Indies has come from “good rhythm in our partnerships”.
Williamson played a vital role in the second, fourth, fifth and sixth-wicket partnership, all of which yielded more than 50 runs.
“All those blokes came out playing really positively and we were able to get a good rhythm in our partnerships,” Williamson said. “It was an important thing and we kept scoring in each of those partnerships. They were all key contributions in the second innings so far.”
As a result of those partnerships, Williamson now finds himself on a career-best score of 161.
In the last nine Tests he has played, Williamson has nearly scored 1,000 runs at a magnificent average of 66.13.
However, Williamson is more concerned with developing his game than statistics.
“I don’t look at that at all. I am just trying to improve my game all the time and adapt to what’s in front of me,” Williamson said. “I suppose you learn more and more as you play. I have played a lot recently and that helps. I just want to stay calm and relaxed at the crease and try and score as many runs as I can, as often as I can. It’s always nice to get a big score. You’d like to do that but it doesn’t always happen. That’s what I’d like to do more often. That’s what I’ll keep practising to try and do. Cricket’s a funny game and you have your failures and successes.”
Meanwhile, West Indies pace bowler Kemar Roach was pleased to have become the 19th West Indian to take 100 Test wickets.
“I am proud of the way I came back after my [shoulder] surgery,” Roach said. “I put some hard work in and it is showing. Fifteen wickets in the series so far is pretty good for me. It has been tough. The wicket is too flat. Pretty hard to bowl on. But once you hit your areas, hopefully the batsman makes a mistake so you get some wickets.
“(Reaching 100 wickets is) definitely a big thing for me. That was my goal, to get there in 20 (Tests), but 26 is as good, so I am glad to achieve that. Obviously you want to perform at home for sure. To be able to do that in front of fans at home is great and I am grateful for that.”