Kane Williamson to arrive late for first Test against Sri Lanka after grandmother’s death

Kane Williamson. (Photo Source: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

New Zealand’s mainstay and former skipper, Kane Williamson is expected to arrive late for the first Test against Sri Lanka, which is to be played in Christchurch on Thursday. In an unfortunate loss, Williamson lost his beloved grandmother last Thursday.

Joan Williamson-Orr had 20 grandchildren including Williamson along with Dane Cleaver who made his debut for New Zealand against Ireland  in the shortest format of T20Is last year. Interestingly enough, Williamson’s grandmother served as Taupō District mayor from 1988 to 2001. She was aged 92.

Notably, Kane’s grandmother made the headlines for defending her grandson against criticism on the radio station named, Radio talkback, during the Black Caps’ series against Pakistan. “I happen to be Kane Williamson’s grandmother … he’s one of 20 of my grandchildren,” she told Newstalk ZB’s Tim Roxborogh.

“He’s a very lovely young man and he’s been dedicated. A very humble man … he won’t care at criticism, I don’t think he even listens to it,” she concluded.

Everyone is feeling for Kane at the moment and he is in the best place he can be: Captain Tim Southee

The New Zealand Captain, Tim Southee, shared his views just before the two-test series opener at Hagley Oval. He informed  that Kane Williamson is currently staying back at his home in Tauranga. “On behalf of the team, I think everyone is feeling for Kane at the moment and he is in the best place he can be. And that is with, in and around, his family. It is a sad time for the Williamson family,” Southee said.

“We are looking forward to Kane joining up. He has been able to train with the ND guys in Tauranga, so I am sure he will be hitting plenty of balls and making sure he is ready to go come Thursday,” the skipper concluded.

It is worth mentioning that Kane Williamson was a stand-out performer for NZ in their stunning one-run victory over England last week. The flamboyant batter scorred 132 in their second innings. Moreover, he became his country’s highest test run-scorer.

Meanwhile, Southee said the Black Caps had already shunted the epic win over England at the Basin Reserve in Wellington last week, when they snared a dramatic one-wicket victory to draw the series 1-1, into the back of their minds.’

While talking about the upcoming Test challenge in Sri Lanka, Tim Southee prefers not to the visitors lightly. “We are obviously out of the test championship, and they have got plenty to play for over the next two weeks,” Southee was quoted as saying by Stuff.co.nz.

Sri Lanka are still in with an outside chance to qualify for the WTC final while former champions are already out of the contention this year.