Bureau Report
Karachi: New Zealand captain Kane Williamson is enjoying the moment as he is all set to play the Boxing Day against Pakistan in his hometown, Tauranga. The 31-year-old is spending this year’s Christmas with his family as for the past three years, his team was away from home at this time of the year.
“Playing a Boxing Day test at home is really special and so is having Christmas at home,” Williamson told stuff.co.nz “It’s a slightly different feeling when you have Christmas and you’re in a hotel room somewhere and it will be really nice to spend it with family this year and I know pretty much all the guys have their families around as well to do that,” he added. The number three ranked Test batsman didn’t play the second Test against West Indies as he was on paternity leave to be with his wife Sarah Raheem ahead of the birth of their first child. Williamson was blessed with a baby girl on December 16.
“It’s always mixed watching, though I had other things on my mind, which was great,” Williamson added.
“You miss the guys when you’re used to playing with each other, but then it was really, really nice to see them play so well and work through a number of tough periods on a wicket that was sporting,” he maintained.
Talking about the first Test against Pakistan, Williamson thinks it’s important to consider different things on a new pitch as they will be up against a quality Pakistan side.
“It’s important that we reassess and see where we need to be on a new surface and against a strong side in Pakistan,” he concluded.
The first Test between both teams starts from December 26 at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui.
