AUCKLAND: Kane Williamson insisted that the late Martin Crowe remained New Zealand’s best batsman of all time as he grabbed a national-record 18th Test century on a rain-hit day two against England on Friday.

Williamson’s 102 provided the backbone of New Zealand’s 229 for four at stumps which left England on the ropes on a wet and gloomy day when rain restricted play to 23.1 overs.

“I’d still rather be out there,” Williamson said, when asked how he felt breaking the previous New Zealand record of 17 centuries which he shared with Ross Taylor and Crowe.

“I’ve never focussed too much on stats, it’s always been about trying to do my best for the team. That’s why today it was frustrating to not still be out there.”

But 27-year-old did take satisfaction from having New Zealand “in a fairly strong position” with a lead of 171 over England and six wickets in hand.

Williamson refused to accept comparisons between himself and Crowe, whom he rated as New Zealand’s “best player, batsman certainly, of all time”.

Published in Dawn, March 24th, 2018