Williamson Out for a Duck in Return Match

New Zealand’s experienced batter Kane Williamson had an unenviable return to the national team, getting out for zero without facing more than a single delivery. In his comeback game, he followed in the footsteps of another cricket star, Virat Kohli, who also fell for a duck.

At Mount Maunganui on Sunday, Williamson came to the crease in the second over with New Zealand chasing 224 against England. This marked his return to international cricket after nearly seven and a half months since his last match, and the former Kiwi captain was eager to wear the national jersey again.

Williamson was dismissed on the very first ball by a brilliant outswing delivery from Brydon Carse. Attempting a defensive shot, he edged the ball to Jos Buttler’s gloves and departed the field visibly disappointed at the age of 35.

In his nearly 174-match ODI career, this was Williamson’s first golden duck. Internationally, it was his fifth golden duck overall, having previously been dismissed first ball three times in T20s and once in Tests.

Virat Kohli, who returned to international cricket against Australia last Sunday after around seven and a half months, was also dismissed for a duck, although he faced eight balls and did not register a golden duck. In the following match, Kohli experienced a golden duck on the first ball. A week later, Williamson faced a similarly bitter start in his comeback.

Khabarwala/TSN