I am sure Williamson will be hitting plenty of balls and making sure he is ready to go come Thursday – Tim Southee

Tim Southee announced that Kane Williamson is ready to be available for the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch, starting Thursday. The New Zealand batter, who is now grieving his grandmother’s passing at home, will join the squad at the last minute.

The Black Caps skipper Tim Southee announced that Kane Williamson is ready to be available for the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch, starting Thursday. The New Zealand batter, who is now grieving his grandmother’s passing at home, will join the squad at the last minute.

Speaking on Tuesday, ahead of the two-match Test series, Southee said,

“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.”

“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.”

Williamson contributed significantly to New Zealand’s series-leveling victory against England last week, scoring a century and becoming the highest run-getter in Tests for his country in the process. 

Meanwhile, Southee also said that the win over England in the second Test had significantly increased interest in Test cricket in the country.

“It has been great to have the number of people who have been talking about Test cricket, to see the Basin Reserve filled for five days was great to be a part of,”

Southee said.

“I think, just in general, the guys are pleased to see people talking about Test cricket. And Test cricket is exciting. England has played their part in that, over the last year or so. The guys still see Test cricket as the pinnacle of the game.”

However, he added that the celebration of the win will have to be put on hold as attention must turn to the new tourists, who need a clean sweep – to qualify for the World Test Championship final and for India to lose or draw the Ahmedabad Test against Australia.

“It is a match that will be talked about for a long time, but they are a very humble group. Now our focus will shift to Sri Lanka,”

Southee said.