Kane Williamson announced his immediate retirement from all international cricket after a brief appearance in the Lord’s Test, where he made a duck and scored 18. The 35‑year‑old leaves the Black Caps having amassed 19,346 runs across formats, a record that crowns him New Zealand’s all‑format leading scorer, in a career spanning sixteen years. His departure comes as England‑New Zealand series heads to The Oval.

Across 378 internationals, Williamson notched 48 centuries and six double‑hundreds, with Test tally of 9,515 runs at a 54.06 average and 33 Test hundreds in 110 matches. He captained New Zealand 206 times between 2012 and 2024, steering the side to the inaugural World Test Championship title in 2021 and finals of both the 2019 World Cup and 2021 T20 World Cup, for New Zealand cricket and fans.

Coach Rob Walter called Williamson’s influence “embedded in the Black Caps DNA,” praising his consistency and leadership. Sir Richard Hadlee echoed the sentiment, labeling him an “unflappable leader” responsible for many of New Zealand’s finest moments. With a deep talent pool now emerging, the team will look to build on the foundation he leaves behind.