Black Caps v England: Will test series be Kane Williamson’s last for New Zealand?

There is a very real chance next month’s tour of England will be Kane Williamson’s last for the Black Caps.

Having been an international cricketer for the better part of 16 years, the 35-year-old doesn’t hide from the fact his time as a Black Cap is coming to an end.

But having been without a New Zealand Cricket (NZC) central contract since mid-2024, just how involved Williamson is with the national side until then is ultimately up for him.

While the Black Caps will play 14 tests in the next 12 months, Williamson’s involvement is far from guaranteed.

When the squads to face Ireland and England were named, Williamson’s name was down for both. After that, though, there is little clarity over how much more he’ll want to play.

At the end of 2025, Williamson indicated his Black Caps future is “series by series”. Understandably, given his three young children, family is now the most important consideration in any decision he makes.

The Herald understands that even if Williamson has committed to the tour of England, facing Australia over summer is far from certain at this point. Dialogue between Williamson, Black Caps coach Rob Walter and chief selector Gavin Larsen is understood to be positive, though.

England is a pinnacle tour for any cricketer, given the history of venues like Lord’s. On top of that, England is also special for Williamson as the home of his wife, and where he spent a large chunk of 2025 as an overseas player for county side Middlesex, and with the London Spirit in professional league The Hundred. Those contracts continue into this year as well.

Despite the Black Caps’ lack of success in Australia, though, sources have told the Herald it is not a huge motivator for Williamson, who has already toured there three times – in 2011, 2015 and 2019.

If Williamson doesn’t wish to tour Australia one last time, he could use the Black Caps’ two-test home series against India later this year as his farewell.

While the home summer schedule is yet to be released by NZC, a test at Bay Oval could be a potential red herring regarding what’s to come, as was speculated with the test against the West Indies last year.

Given Williamson’s humility, it seems unlikely any announcement of his retirement will come before his final test, akin to Daniel Vettori confirming his exit after the 2015 World Cup final was played.

The Herald also understands Williamson’s autobiography is well underway. While there are exceptions, the publication of cricketers’ books tends to coincide with retirement.

Even though he’s already given up T20 Internationals, the former Black Caps captain has proven to be sought-after in the franchise world.

Aside from deals in England, Williamson is involved with Indian Premier League (IPL) side Lucknow Super Giants as a strategic adviser, and sister outfit Durban’s Super Giants in South Africa’s SA20.

He will join the tour of Ireland from India when the IPL’s regular season ends, given Lucknow are out of finals contention.

As he said in December, Williamson doesn’t want to be in the national side if he’s not contributing to its success. He hasn’t scored a test century since December 2024, albeit that says more about New Zealand’s schedule than Williamson’s output.

Last summer’s sole series against the West Indies, which New Zealand won 2-0, brought a return of 185 runs at an average of 46.25, with only one half-century. However, there were also two unbeaten scores, 16 not out to complete victory in Wellington, and 40 not out to set up a declaration at Bay Oval.

And while Williamson indicated his desire to play at the 2027 World Cup in South Africa, the Herald understands that one last chance at the 50-over title could easily make way.

As a player, then, the only carrot to dangle in front of Williamson is the fabled mark of 10,000 test runs.

No Kiwi has ever hit that milestone, and will likely never get the chance to if Williamson doesn’t, given the shifting landscape of cricket away from tests towards T20.

Heading to England, Williamson sits on 9461. However, as a player who has never been motivated by stats or milestones, Williamson has been clear in saying he will not lose sleep if he ends his career with 9999 runs.

Speaking to the Herald after the squads for Ireland and England were named, chief selector Larsen outlined that while the urge to see a Kiwi in the 10,000 club is high, it won’t be the sole determinant of his future.

“Every New Zealand cricket fan will be rooting for Kane to score that number of runs,” he said.

“As selectors, we’re hoping and praying he plays a huge number – if not all – of the test matches we’ve got on the radar. If he goes big and pushes well past that milestone, that would be our hope and desire.

“But records, stats and milestones mean nothing to Kane. He’s all about the team, he’s all about doing what’s right for New Zealand cricket.

“That’s what’s made him such a champion over the years.”

Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.