A clip from Sky Sports' coverage of the first Test between England and New Zealand on June 7 has gone viral. During the broadcast, Doull briefly said, "A big announcement is coming in the next few days," without giving any further details. At the time, fans were left guessing, but five days later Williamson announced his retirement, making Doull's comment look remarkably accurate.
June 7 Doull hinted, June 12 Williamson confirmed — How Simon Doull predicted the biggest retirement in New Zealand cricket
During the first Test at Lord's, Simon Doull made a short comment that quickly caught the attention of viewers. He hinted that a major announcement involving New Zealand cricket was on the way but did not reveal any details.
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The timing of the two events has made Doull's prediction one of the biggest talking points in the cricket world over the past few days.
19,346 runs, 48 centuries, One World Test Championship — Kane Williamson retires as New Zealand's greatest ever batter
Williamson leaves international cricket as New Zealand's highest run-scorer across all formats. During his 16-year career, he scored 19,346 international runs, including 48 centuries and six double centuries.
The 35-year-old made his Test debut against India in Ahmedabad in 2010 and went on to play 110 Tests, scoring 9,515 runs at an average of 54.06. He also scored 7,256 runs in 175 ODIs and 2,575 runs in 93 T20Is.
Williamson's greatest achievement as captain came in 2021 when he led New Zealand to victory in the inaugural ICC World Test Championship final. It remains one of the biggest moments in New Zealand cricket history.
Speaking about his retirement, Williamson said, "I've thought about it for a while, but over the last few days it's become clear now is the right time. I've always felt a strong drive and hunger for international cricket, and I take pride in knowing I've given it my all in every match I've played for New Zealand."
Two World Cup Finals, Four Hadlee medals and the spirit of cricket — The legacy Kane Williamson leaves behind
Williamson's influence is a lot more than his numbers with the bat. Under his leadership, New Zealand made the 2019 ODI World Cup final and the 2021 T20 World Cup final and also won the 2021 World Test Championship.
The BlackCaps were heartbreakingly close to winning the 2019 ODI World Cup, only to be beaten by England in the famous Super Over and then the boundary count rule. Williamson was still named Player of the Tournament for his outstanding performances.
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He was one of cricket's famous "Fab Four" batters along with Virat Kohli, Steve Smith and Joe Root. During his career, he won the Sir Richard Hadlee Medal four times, was named ICC Cricketer of the Year in 2015, ICC Test Player of the Year in 2019, and received the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award in 2018.
With Williamson now stepping away from international cricket, New Zealand lose not only one of their greatest batters but also one of the most respected players in the modern game.
