The Hundred: Simon Katich backs Kane Williamson to be in demand for the tournament

While Kane Williamson is not an out and out T20 player, there are few who can doubt his effectiveness in a format where hard-hitters remain in demand. The New Zealand skipper has a strike-rate of 122 in T20Is which is not very attractive but that does not really reveal the entire story. Just a year ago, he had set the stage on fire in the Indian Premier League.

The right-handed batsman finished the 2018 season as IPL’s top run-scorer. He scored a staggering 735 runs to lead Sunrisers Hyderabad to the final. And Simon Katich is perhaps well aware of what Williamson brings to the table. Ahead of the players’ draft for The Hundred, Katich, who will coach Manchester Originals in the tournament, has said that Williamson will be in demand when the players are up for grab.

“These guys add more than their batting – Kane Williamson and Steve Smith in particular,” the former Australia batsman told Sky Sports. “They are fantastic leaders and obviously have an effect on the rest of the group and tactically they are very good as well. Williamson nearly led New Zealand to their first World Cup so, from that point of view, he will be in demand I would have thought.

Katich excited for the tournament

Katich further said that he is excited to see how the latest innovation in the game pans out. The Hundred will get underway in England next summer with a completely different format. Each innings will have a maximum of 100 balls while the bowlers will deliver either five or 10 consecutive balls but no more than 20 per match.

“It will be interesting to see how the game and the format evolves because an innings with 20 balls less than T20 can have a different effect on the batsman’s mindset and how they have to go about structuring their innings. Bowlers will be under pressure too earlier in their spells because there are fewer balls to get on with it,” said Katich.

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