Special feeling: Williamson credits his ‘bits and pieces’ cricketers for WTC triumph

Southampton, Jun 24 (PTI): New Zealand captain Kane Williamson saluted the commitment of his star-shorn side as he savoured the “special feeling” of winning the inaugural World Test Championship mace by beating India, relying on “bits and pieces to stay in games and be competitive”. With the World Test Championships triumph, the “nice guys” of world cricket showed that they don’t always finish last. The win over mighty India has also made up for the heartbreak of successive ODI World Cup final losses in 2015 and 2019.
Wiliamson termed their final win over India as the “pinnacle” but stopped short of calling it the country’s biggest achievement in the game.
“I’ve been part of (New Zealand cricket) for a short while, it’s a very special feeling, the first time in our history we’ve come away with a world title,” Williamson said in post-match press conference on Wednesday.
“We’ve had 22 players over the last two years, and they’ve all played their part and the support staff and the guys who played this match, it’s a special achievement to be savoured.
“I think for us, we know we don’t always have the stars, and we use our bits and pieces to stay in games and be competitive,” added the likeable captain in the post-match presentation. He said it is nice to be finally end up on the right side of the result.
“Well, obviously it’s the pinnacle, isn’t it, really, being involved in the final. Like I said, a formidable side in India. 2019 was a great occasion and a brilliant game of cricket, as well. “But obviously a slightly different feeling being on the right side of the result for us,” he said minutes later in the media interaction.
On the “nice guys” tag given to them, he said: “People can comment on that or tag us how they’d like…”
“But it’s not about being anything other than authentic to us as a group and the sort of cricket that we want to play and the behaviours that is important to us day in, day out.”
The New Zealand cricketers are arguably the most likeable cricketers around the world, including India, and Williamson hoped the outcome of the final won’t change that.
“It’s nice that maybe we’re India’s second favourite team. I hope that still remains the case.