Former Black Caps captain Kane Williamson says a conversation with Indian great Virat Kohli made a decision he'd been weighing "really, really clear": it was time to walk away from international cricket.
New Zealand's leading all time run scorer announced his retirement following a 115-run defeat to England in the first Test at Lord’s in June and did it in his trademark understated style. No farewell tour, no press conference, just a short statement filmed in a nondescript hotel room.
Speaking to Seven Sharp about his new autobiography, Williamson said he spoke to people he was close to, including Kohli, before announcing anything.
"We've got a great relationship in our careers, although we're from different countries, different worlds, in a lot of ways. They've kind of been parallel, I suppose," he said.
Kane Williamson opens up about cricket's highs and painful lows - Watch on TVNZ+
The former Black Caps captain reveals how a chat with his Indian counterpart made his retirement decision clear, as he reflects on his career in a new autobiography. (Source: Seven Sharp)
"From under-19s and all the way through, whether it's international, captaincy and family... to have that chat with someone that totally understands where you're at, and the feeling and the timing and your life situation, it made it really, really clear and also felt right as well."
Asked if Kohli had backed up what he was thinking, Williamson said: "Basically, yeah."
The 36-year-old said Kohli, who still plays some international one-day cricket, was at the same stage of his career and life and understood thoughts "that you probably knew were real, but really difficult for other people to totally understand".
'It added another chapter'
Williamson said he started work on the book about eight months before he retired, with sports journalist Dylan Cleaver.
"I hadn't decided on what I was doing, but it added another chapter, which was nice," he said.
Cricket autobiographies often carry punning titles, and Williamson's is no exception. He said the team brainstormed ideas before landing on The Bare Margins, a nod to commentator Ian Smith's call from the 2019 Men's Cricket World Cup final, which New Zealand lost to England on boundary countback.
The book goes back to his Test debut against India in 2010, when Williamson, then 20, became the eighth New Zealander to score a century in his first Test.
He said he had expected a barrage from the Indian fielders but found "just gentlemen", among them Virender Sehwag, who was standing at the non-striker's end on what Williamson remembered as "a million not out".
"He was just singing. I couldn't believe it," Williamson said.
"As a youngster playing club cricket, you're getting sledged by these older fellas, and then you go up and play the top level against your heroes, and they're just totally relaxed."
A souvenir from Steyn
South Africa was less polite. Williamson recalled a match in which a delivery from fast bowler Dale Steyn left him flat on the pitch.
"I do remember playing South Africa and getting hit in my box, sort of laying down flat on the pitch, and Dale Steyn standing over me," he said.
"I think I was bugging them a bit. I was hanging around, and [it was] 'if we can't get you out, we're going to hurt you out'."
Williamson said Steyn was an intimidating bowler, but he was in too much pain to notice.
He got his own back of sorts after the match, when he took the broken box into the South African dressing room for Steyn to sign.
"So that's one of my little pieces of memorabilia I have in my house," he said.
That broken box later led to a new venture. Williamson has since developed his own protector, and he said it took "about five years of R and D, various designs and things".
He said it is now "in the hands of well over 100 international cricketers that are seeking it out".
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