At the end of his profession, a New Zealand captain might have other priorities, Fleming says.
After being disappointed by their group-stage return from the T20 World Cup, Kiwi Williamson, the captain of New Zealand, said his team would need to reorganize. However, he could not say whether he would be ready to compete for another title when India and Sri Lanka return in 2026.
Williamson, who turns 34 in August, has been a cornerstone of New Zealand's greatest light- basketball team for more than a decade, having helped his part accomplish at least the semi- finals in seven of the ten subsequent World Cups that he has played in, across 20- and 50- over formats, since 2011.
In that time, New Zealand have played in three playoffs- with Williamson's individual achievements including a Player- of- the- Tournament exhibit in England in 2019 and an pitches of 85 from 48 balls in battle to Australia in Dubai in 2021. But, with his extended- time team- partner Trent Boult having previously confirmed this present tournament was his last T20 World Cup, Williamson recognises that a changing of the guard could be on the cards.
" Oh, I do n't know", he said, when asked if he'd still be involved in New Zealand's T20I set- up in 2026. " There's a bit of time between now and then, so it's about regrouping as a side. We've got reddish- ball cricket over the next year generally, so it's up into some other global formats, and we'll see where things land".
New Zealand's most notable victory of recent years came in the Test format in 2021, when Williamson captained the team to victory over India in the World Test Championship final in Southampton. Later this year, the two teams will play in India's own conditions in a three-game home series against England in December and a four-game tour of Australia in 2026-27.
Williamson, who turned in his 100th Test debut earlier this year alongside Tim Southee, who has been a long-time teammate, could now do so with that feat. He currently has 8743 Test runs.
Speaking on ESPNcricinfo's TimeOut show, Stephen Fleming, the former New Zealand captain, said that Williamson would be afforded the time he needs and deserves to figure out his next move, but that his priorities were bound to have altered as he enters the final years of his illustrious career.
" It has n't really been questioned over here, due to his genius with the bat, but he has to make a decision now after a disappointing World Cup", Fleming said. " What does his future hold? Is it all three formats, is it franchise cricket, is it family time? He will eventually reach the point where he begins making decisions based solely on cricket, whereas in the past, it was only cricket.
" He will be afforded the luxury of time, because he's a generational player and he'll be hurting a lot. The older New Zealand players would have looked at this as maybe their last good opportunity, so it might be that it's time to move on, or he'll steel himself to right the wrongs for the next one. But he's not a guy that gives away a lot, so it'd be interesting to see what he does."
On the specifics of this latest campaign, Williamson admitted that New Zealand had been too slow to adjust to the challenge that they faced in the Caribbean, where a strong Afghanistan and the hosts West Indies proved too powerful in a tough Group C.
" It took a long time to start and then, in a matter of days, we were not in contention, which was frustrating," Williamson said". Unfortunately, our first two games were decided by a couple of very capable teams who were very well equipped in these circumstances.
" All in all it's frustrating, but there'll be learnings for the players that come back to this part of the world. These conditions have been somewhat challenging, so they are some good experiences to have going forward".
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