Photo Credit: Instagram Photo of @kane_s_w
Middlesex has made a bold move to sign Kane Williamson for the 2025 season as counties continue to target New Zealand players as overseas recruits.
Williamson, 34, has previously played domestically for Yorkshire and Gloucestershire, and his signing would be a significant achievement for a club that struggled financially last summer, limiting them to fielding only homegrown talent.
However, Middlesex has since allocated funds for overseas players and may share the cost with their Lord’s landlords, the MCC. The MCC, who are keen to make Williamson an ambassador for the year, have previously struck similar deals with high-profile players like Adam Gilchrist and Brendon McCullum. With the MCC hosting the World Test Championship next summer, Williamson, as the 2021 inaugural tournament-winning captain, would serve as an ideal promotional figurehead.
“We have been able to work the budget so that we can afford an overseas player and there are a number of options that we are looking at,” said Alan Coleman, Middlesex’s head of men’s performance.
Williamson, who missed out on a place in the recent Indian Premier League auction, is the top contender. His wife, Sarah, is originally from Bristol, which could make the move even more appealing. Middlesex has already signed Zafar Gohar, the former Pakistan international spinner, who will be registered as a local cricketer. Gohar joins a squad that narrowly missed out on promotion to Division One of the County Championship three months ago.
Other New Zealand players are also attracting attention from county sides. Tim Southee, who recently claimed his 391st and final Test wicket in New Zealand’s 423-run victory over England, is nearing an agreement with Hampshire. Additionally, 24-year-old all-rounder Jack Edwards, who has revitalized New South Wales as their new Sheffield Shield captain, is of interest to Hampshire.
Newly-promoted Yorkshire has made an offer to Matt Henry but faces stiff competition from Somerset. Yorkshire also faces a setback in their pursuit of Will O’Rourke, as New Zealand Cricket has restricted his availability to one Championship fixture and eight Vitality Blast fixtures to manage his workload.
Other notable moves include Black Caps captain Tom Latham joining Warwickshire, all-rounder Nathan Smith moving from Worcestershire to Surrey, and expectations that Lancashire will secure a return for Daryl Mitchell in the new year.
New Zealand players are in high demand for the 2025 season, as their schedule between April and September currently includes only a short tour to Zimbabwe in midsummer.
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Name of Author: Cricexec Staff
