Williamson: “It will be fantastic to have Edgbaston as a home ground”

BlackCaps superstar Kane Williamson can't wait for The Hundred to arrive so that he can be part of history with his Birmingham Phoenix team-mates.

Williamson is a world class batter in all formats for New Zealand and a real prestige pick for a Phoenix side which will also feature Brummie legends Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes.

And he can’t wait to get to Birmingham in the summer and get into action at Edgbaston in the amazing match atmosphere that he has experienced with the Black Caps and heard so much about from fellow Kiwi stars Jeetan Patel, Brendon McCullum, Grant Elliot and Colin de Grandhomme from their time with the Bears.

“They all speak very fondly of their time in Birmingham,” said Williamson. “So it’s great for me to be involved with the Phoenix and I am really looking forward to it. It will be fantastic to have Edgbaston as a home ground with its great atmosphere. I remember playing against Pakistan there in the World Cup and it was amazing.

“I am really excited to be coming over to play for the Phoenix in a fantastic competition. To be a part of that first competition and a piece of cricket history is a great prospect.

Kane Williamson

“There will be a few little additions to the rules and every team will go about it a little bit differently and have their own ideas.  It’s an unknown and that’s very exciting and I feel very fortunate to be part of that.

“There will be differences and it will be the teams that adjust quickly who gain early on in the tournament. Trying to get your head around the new rules and the new tactics will be important. It will be very high tempo, much like T20, only even quicker as it is a little bit shorter.

“Most importantly, it will bring in new spectators and  grow the game of cricket which is a really positive thing. T20 really moved the game forward and connected it with another audience and here is another opportunity to do that. Hopefully it will encourage even more people to come and watch and show them cricket is a fantastic game to follow and play in.”

Williamson is looking forward to the cricket – and also to getting better acquainted with the West Midlands, his previous visits having been confined pretty match to team hotels and the serious business at Edgbaston.

“My visits to Birmingham have always been part of major tournament when you sort of play and go,” he said.

“So it will be great to have Edgbaston as a home ground and get a real feel for the area. It will be really nice to spend some time in the area and get to know it over four or five weeks.”

Kane Williamson

Warwickshire Members have first access to Birmingham Phoenix tickets in The Hundred in the pre-sale window that starts at tickets.edgbaston.com at 10am on Tuesday 23 February.

What’s more, Members will save 50 per cent on tickets and be able to secure a seat at Edgbaston from between £5 and £13.50. All tickets for under 16s are priced at just £2.50 during this window, meaning that a family of four can attend a fixture from as little as £15.