Even the birth of his first child could not keep Kane Williamson away from the cricket field for long as the New Zealand skipper linked with the team on the eve of the second T20I against Pakistan. The right-handed batsman batsman missed the second Test against West Indies as well as the first T20I against Pakistan to be at home with wife Sarah Raheem ahead of the arrival of their first child.
On Wednesday, he announced the birth of the couple’s daughter in an Instagram post. Kane Williamson posted an adorable picture of himself holding his child in his arms on the social media platform with the caption: “Overjoyed to welcome a beautiful baby girl into our family ❤️”. And it took just a couple of days after the birth of his daughter to return to cricket.
New Zealand head coach Gary Stead expressed his delight over the return of the captain. The coach stated that Kane Williamson looked ‘quite tired and a bit bleary-eyed’ before saying that he was still hitting the ball well in the nets.
“He’s quite tired, a bit bleary-eyed, I think,” Stead said. “But overall, he’s hitting them well. Just normal Kane, gets about his business.”
Kane Williamson also spoke about his ‘incredibly special experience’ in the last couple of days. The batting superstar was struggling to put his feelings into words. At the same time, he was quick to point out that he was delighted to link with the New Zealand side and has his eyes set on the remaining two T20Is of the series.
“It’s just an incredibly special experience to have. It’s really hard to put words into how you feel and going through it, and the appreciation you have for your wives and partners, that are obviously bearing so much of that whole experience,” Kane Williamson said in an interview with the New Zealand Cricket media team.
“It’s just so amazing, really, to be there through it, and obviously to have a few days at home has been really, really cool. But at the same time, it’s nice to get back with the guys and looking forward to getting involved in these T20s,” he added.
In the video posted by New Zealand cricket team on their official Twitter handle, Williamson was seen embracing with senior team-mates Ross Taylor and Tim Southee at the nets on Saturday.
Look who’s back ??
We couldn’t keep new father Kane Williamson away from the nets for long as he rejoins the T20 squad in Hamilton ahead of Sunday night’s 2nd T20I ?#NZvPAK #CricketNation pic.twitter.com/D2LhtbA538— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) December 19, 2020