Williamson’s hard work paid off: McMillan
Kane Williamson. -Getty
||CF Correspondent||
New Zealand batting coach Craig McMillan said on Saturday that skipper Kane Williamson is rewarded for all the hard work that he put behind his batting as he notched up a superlative unbeaten double hundred against Bangladesh in the opening Test at Hamilton to put the host on the driving seat.
Williamson was at the centre of the effort, scoring an unbeaten double hundred to launch an all-out attack on Bangladesh on the third day as the home side declared their first innings on record 715-6 before reducing Bangladesh to 174-4 at stumps on day three to be comfortably placed in the three-match series opener.
Willamson built on a record 254-run opening partnership between Jeet Raval and Tom Latham, both of whom hit centuries, to go on and compile his second double ton.
"He was sublime today," McMillan said of Williamson during the post-match press conference. "Whenever the Bangladeshi bowlers missed, he hurt them, he was very efficient when they offered scoring opportunities and created those partnerships that we talk a lot about.
"It's not easy, and it takes a lot of hard work behind the scenes that allows him to play like that. He's very hard to bowl at as he bats 360 degrees - all around the wicket. Bowlers only have to err a fraction with Kane, and he hurts them, and we saw that today. A terrific knock all around."
McMillan also hailed his batting unit to come up with a clinical performance against Tigers that helped them end the day post their highest total in Test cricket leaving behind their 690 runs in Sharjah.
McMillan, who was in charge when New Zealand on both occasions was delighted with the feat and with where the hosts find themselves in the Test match.
"It was right up there [with the best]. Obviously, it was historic in the amount of runs scored, and the contributions throughout the innings makes it very special, and one that the guys are really proud of,’’ said McMillan adding that they declared as they wanted to have a go at the opponent batting unit.
The declaration came despite Williamson's had the chance to cross his current highest score of 242 as he declared well short of it, asking Bangladesh to bat right after he got to his double hundred.
"The milestones weren't an issue at all. We wanted to bat for a period where we could see the wear and tear in the surface - starting to see those cracks open up and develop a little bit. [Williamson] obviously reached that milestone and thought 'now's the time,” he said.
"And we wanted the bowlers to have a decent crack, not just a short hour at the end of the day. To pick up those four wickets was very satisfying at the end of the day," the coach concluded.
