Kane Williamson Ruled Out in Bizarre Collision, Black Caps in Early Trouble

Kane Williamson’s first innings in the first Test against Australia ended in an embarrassing fashion as he was run out for a duck in a bizarre on-field collision.

Walking out to bat with the score at 1-12, Williamson faced just two deliveries before disaster struck. He was having a great home test summer with record-breaking innings consistently coming off his bat.

Chasing a Mitchell Starc delivery to mid-off, he called for a single and set off for a run. However, his partner Will Young was caught ball-watching initially before sprinting for the single, colliding with Williamson in the middle of the pitch.

Marnus Labuschagne, alert to the situation, pounced on the opportunity and threw down the stumps with a direct hit, catching Williamson well short of his crease, stuck between Mitchell Starc and Will Young.

The dismissal left commentators stunned. “I cannot believe it,” exclaimed former Australian cricketer Brendon Julian on TVNZ+. “A direct hit… how has that happened?” Williamson looked visibly frustrated with what unfolded in the middle of the pitch.

Craig McMillan, another former New Zealand player, echoed the sentiment, stating, “I can’t believe what I’ve just seen here… bang, bang they run into each other… that is just a disaster for New Zealand.”

The Black Caps’ woes compounded further when Rachin Ravindra was dismissed for a golden duck just a few deliveries later. Attempting a drive off Josh Hazlewood, Ravindra found Nathan Lyon at point who took a comfortable catch. This dismissal left New Zealand reeling at 3-12, facing an uphill battle in the first innings.

While reviewing the wickets later, former New Zealand player Mark Richardson offered a relatable analogy for the run out. “Is it anyone’s fault? I don’t know,” he said. “We’ve all had that, when you’re walking down the road and you go left and they go the same way, it’s fine in the street. It’s no good in between the wickets.”

Despite the unfortunate dismissal, Richardson acknowledged the frustration on Williamson’s face, suggesting he might have even sustained a minor injury.

McMillan, however, commended the fielding effort from Labuschagne, calling it “excellent fielding all round, that’s just quality.”