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Monday, 25 May 2015 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Kane Williamson
ESPNCricinfo: Kane Williamson savoured the “unique” experience of scoring a Test hundred at Lord’s but admitted he could not really soak up the generous applause he received when eventually dismissed for 132 because he was feeling “brassed off” at not being able to extend his innings.
Williamson was 92 overnight and quickly moved to his hundred in the second over of the day but from there on, as the cloud cover rolled in, life became much tougher. He had built an important 50-run stand with BJ Watling, after England had struck either side of a rain delay at lunch, when he feathered a catch to leg slip against Moeen Al having weathered some testing overs from the quicks.
“I was a bit brassed off to be honest,” he said. “It’s so unqiue how you walk through so many different people - it’s very different to anywhere else. Coming off I was pretty frustrated to get out at that time after such a tough period where England bowled extremely well under cloud cover.
“Overnight, knowing you are really close to three figures and the much spoken-about honours board, it plays your mind a little but to be honest was just trying to put that to the back and get on with the job at hand. It was nice to cross the line, with all the history here at Lord’s and there a lot of great names on the honours board.”
Much had been made of the lack of preparation Williamson had heading into the series after an IPL stint largely sat on the bench. He had batted just twice since the World Cup final - and his last innings was on 13 April - but on the second day he progressed so serenely that it was as though he had never been away from Test cricket: his last five-day innings was the small matter of 242 not out against Sri Lanka. In Williamson’s favour was the fact he has played county cricket for Yorkshire and in the Test here two years ago made 60 in the first innings of a bowler-dominated match.
“Towards the end of the IPL when I wasn’t looking like playing my focus was very much to prepare for Test cricket as it was so soon,” he said “I was able to prepare although it would have been nice to have the odd warm-up game, but I could draw on experience I’ve had here before. The most important thing is actually the mental transition and not letting little things disturb you.”
