Former New Zealand captain Kane Williamson has committed his future to Middlesex Cricket, signing a two-year contract that will see him participate in both the T20 Blast and County Championship competitions.
Adding to his English summer commitments, Williamson is also expected to feature in The Hundred, having already secured a contract with the London Spirit franchise. Beyond the exciting franchise league, Lord's will become Williamson's new cricketing home in 2025, where he will play in both County Championship matches and T20 Blast fixtures.
Kane Williamson to play for Middlesex Cricket and London Spirit
Kane Williamson's future in the game had been the subject of much speculation after he declined a central contract with New Zealand Cricket. However, with the increasing popularity of franchise leagues and county cricket, many international players now participate in overseas tournaments during periods when they are not on national duty. Williamson's deal with Middlesex Cricket marks a new chapter in his career, as he will now be playing cricket outside of New Zealand.
"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. The Home of Cricket is one of my favourite grounds in the world for so many different reasons. I’ve had so many incredible moments there," Kane Williamson said in a release shared by Middlesex CCC.
“Every player in the world holds Lord’s in the highest regard. They have been able to maintain the tradition around playing there, and that’s what makes it unique to any other place in the world," he added.
County cricket is not new for Williamson as he has previously represented Gloucestershire and Yorkshire. However, the modern-day batting great is now focusing primarily on T20 and franchise cricket, as he has a busy schedule of tournaments lined up this year. Williamson's commitments include playing for the London Spirit in The Hundred and representing the Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League.
The superstar batter, however, went unsold in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction. He was previously part of the Gujarat Titans but was released by the franchise.
But currently Williamson will set his sights on the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 which is set to begin from February 19. New Zealand will kick off their Champions Trophy campaign against hosts Pakistan on Wednesday.