New Zealand’s top cricketer, Kane Williamson, landed deals with both Middlesex and London Spirit for the summer of 2025 in England. The long stint will earn Williamson a home at Lord’s for 5 months from May to September as, in the eyes of the cricket fans, perhaps one of the greatest modern batsmen in cricket history.
Williamson was the Indian leader when New Zealand placed second in the 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Final at Lord’s. He will be the captain of London Spirits during this year’s edition of The Hundred, making him the first direct overseas signing in the men’s competition.
“We are delighted to have Kane on board this summer. The direct signing of such quality overseas is truly exciting for London Spirit, and I’m sure he will relish the prospect of captaincy with our talented group,” Fraser Stewart said after the deal.
He will also feature in at least ten of the 14 T20 Blast group games and in at least 5 County games in the season’s second half. Williamson had previously played domestic cricket in England for both Gloucestershire and Yorkshire. “Our international schedule has allowed for a bit of a break during the English summer, and I was looking to come to the UK with my family, so when this opportunity arose, it was a really exciting prospect”.
“I have played a bit of county cricket in the past for a number of years now, so when this opportunity arose with Middlesex, it was really exciting. To get the opportunity to play for Middlesex, a fine club with a rich heritage, is really exciting and something that I am really looking forward to being a part of”.
“It is one of my favorite grounds in the entire world for so many different reasons, and to play at Lord’s, the Home of Cricket, is something I am particularly looking forward to as well,” he stated. “There’s good combination between youth and experience in the Middlesex squad, which is exciting, and I’m really looking forward to joining the team, meeting the members of the squad, and lending my hand where I can.”
Williamson, 34, is New Zealand’s most prolific scorer in all three international formats with over 18,000 runs. He is averaging 54.88 in Tests, 49.65 in ODIs, and 33.44 in T20Is. After finishing his stint with Karachi Kings in this year’s Pakistan Super League, he will arrive in England, starting mid-April.
“We are hugely excited about Kane joining Middlesex this summer and look forward to him making a positive impact in both our Blast and Championship campaigns. To have secured one of the most talented players in the world’s game is a real coup, and we can’t wait for him to get started, pulling on the three Seaxes on his chest and heading out to play,” they said.
“Having a player like Kane anywhere in the Middlesex dressing room will be of real benefit to the entire squad, and particularly our younger players, who will learn so much from playing alongside one of the world’s best,” added Alan Coleman, Middlesex’s Director of Cricket.
Currently, Williamson is with the New Zealand team in preparation for their debut at the ICC Champions Trophy campaign against Pakistan, the hosts, on Wednesday. Recently, he scored an unbeaten 133 against South Africa during New Zealand’s successful run in the 50-over tri-series in Pakistan.
