Nz's Williamson Retires From T20 Internationals

Former New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson has retired from T20 internationals, saying it is "the correct clip for myself and nan team".

The 35 year-old is group to characteristic successful nan three-Test bid against West Indies successful December and will proceed to play one-day world and T20 franchise cricket.

He scored 2,575 runs astatine an mean of 33.44 and a strike-rate of 123 successful 93 T20 internationals. Only Martin Guptill, pinch 3,531, has scored much for New Zealand.

As captain, Williamson led New Zealand to nan T20 World Cup final successful 2021, top-scoring pinch 85 successful conclusion by Australia.

"It gives nan squad clarity for nan bid moving guardant and up of their adjacent awesome focus, which is nan T20 World Cup," said Williamson.

"There's truthful overmuch T20 talent location and nan adjacent play will beryllium important to get cricket into these guys and get them fresh for nan World Cup.

"Mitch [Santner] is simply a superb skipper and leader - he has really travel into his ain pinch this team.

"It's now their clip to push nan Black Caps guardant successful this format and I'll beryllium supporting from afar."

The T20 World Cup successful India and Sri Lanka starts successful February.

Williamson made his T20 debut for New Zealand successful 2011 but had not featured since June 2024.

Regarded by galore arsenic nan champion batter successful New Zealand history, he is their starring Test run-scorer of each clip and 4th connected nan ODI list.

New Zealand Cricket main executive Scott Weenink said Williamson had earned nan correct to determine really he vanished his ODI and Test careers.

"We've made it clear to Kane he has our afloat support arsenic he reaches nan backmost extremity of his illustrious career," he said.

"We would, of course, emotion to spot him play for arsenic agelong arsenic possible, but there's nary uncertainty whenever he does determine to yet telephone time, he will spell down arsenic a fable of New Zealand cricket."

New Zealand completed a 3-0 cleanable sweep successful nan one-day bid against England connected Saturday, having mislaid a rain-affected T20 bid 1-0 beforehand.