Kane Williamson On WTC: New Zealand's legeNdary batsman Kane Williamson has praised the format of World Test Championship and also stated that it 'adds context to Test Cricket'. The Kiwis are the inaugural champions of the newly-introduced tournament by ICC, as they defeated India in the Final back in 2021.
The second edition of the WTC saw India once again reach the Final, only to be defeated by reigning champions Australia back in 2023. By the looks of the ongoing WTC 2023-25 and it's points table, cricketing fans are in for a repeat of 2023 Final, as India and Australia are looking a class apart from rest of the teams, and the iconic Lord's Cricket Ground can witness the 'toughest rivalry of modern era' in 2025.
New Zealand are currently in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, as India is set to host the one-off Test match between New Zealand and Afghanistan starting this Monday (September 9).
"In some ways it's like tournament sport, isn't it? Even though it's over a longer period of time in the [World] Test Championship, but the value of games is high. The context around Test cricket with the Test Championship is really key and it's brought out a lot of really exciting games. And so naturally having six Test matches together is a big part of our Test Championship calendar and one that we're excited about," said Kane Williamson, as reported by ICC.
"It's really important that we look to grow as a unit. It's nice and clear on how we want to play over here. We always know that it's a tough challenge whenever you play in these parts of the world, slightly different from back home. But you know always a great experience and playing against a really, really strong side," he added.
New Zealand's Upcoming Test Schedule
After the conclusion of one-off Test against Afghanistan, the Blackcaps are set to tour Sri Lanka, India, and then host England at home.
- Two-match Test series against Sri Lanka: September 2024
- Three-match Test series against India: October - November 2024
- Three-match Test series against England: November - December 2024