Going Beyond Virat Kohli And Steve Smith Is Extremely Humbling: Kane Williamson Reacts To Becoming The Number 1 Test Batsman

New Zealand skipper and the newly crowned No.1 ranked Test batsman in the world, Kane Williamson has said that he is both surprised as well as humbled at having achieved the feat.

Williamson leapfrogged both Steve Smith and Virat Kohli in the Test rankings for batsmen thanks to his stupendous form in the ongoing home summer where he has already racked up a double-ton against West Indies and a hundred against Pakistan.

Williamson paid tribute to the two modern-day legends for their astounding consistency across formats over the years, adding that he is pretty fortunate to play against them.

The Kiwi skipper had briefly occupied the numero-uno spot in 2015 but since then it has been either Steve Smith or Virat Kohli who have dominated the Test rankings. Even in 2020, Smith occupied the No.1 ranking for 313 days while Virat for 51 days before Kane Williamson leapfrogged both superstars.

”Those two players (Kohli and Smith) are the best. For me to sneak up in some way is very surprising and humbling. Year in and year out, those two players in all formats are moving the game forward. Real fortunate to be playing against these guys.” Kane Williamson said in a video posted by ICC.

? NEW NUMBER 1 ?

Kane Williamson overtakes Steve Smith and Virat Kohli to become the No.1 in the @MRFWorldwide ICC Test Rankings for batting ?

Latest rankings ➜ https://t.co/OMjjVx5Mgf pic.twitter.com/jy5o2qgoKn

— ICC (@ICC) December 31, 2020

 

‘Our team is driven to move each other forward and give to one another’- Kane Williamson

Williamson has been in outstanding form this summer. But, a humble guy that he is, the champion cricketer downplayed his contributions that have helped New Zealand become the No.1 ranked Test side in the world for the first time in history, and instead attributed the all-round performance by his team behind the success.’

“It’s very much (about) trying to do as much as you can for the team. I do see some of those individual rankings driven by efforts of so many other players or the XI that we want go to in (with). If you can be contributing as much as you can, and it can be reflected on the rankings, that’s really cool. (Our) team is driven to move each other forward and give to one another.” Williamson said.

On the challenges of batting on tricky wickets in New Zealand, Williamson said that you need a bit of luck to go your way. He admitted that luck has gone his way over the last few Tests.

“On some of those wickets that are doing a bit, you are going to get some good balls and hopefully if things go your way… So it was nice as that was the case. (The aim is) to build partnerships with your mate at the other end. It has been most satisfying working hard together and we have several of really valuable partnerships throughout those last few Tests on wickets that have been sporting.”

? "It's about trying to do as much as you can for the team. If you can contribute as much as you can and it can be reflected on the rankings, that's really cool."

?️ WATCH: The new World No.1 in Tests reacts to the latest ICC Rankings update ? pic.twitter.com/qIAZTrPdTS

— ICC (@ICC) December 31, 2020

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