Ahead of Australia and New Zealand’s upcoming two-match Test series, former captain of Australia Michael Clarke has expressed his belief in the batting prowess of both Steve Smith, his former teammate, and Kane Williamson. The two players are currently tied at 32 Test centuries apiece, and Clarke believes they will both reach 33 or even 34 centuries.
Clarke stated in an interview with ESPN that he was confident in both hitters. By the time the show ends, they will all have accrued 33 or perhaps even 34 hundreds. Their domination is obvious, even though they aren’t actively seeking individual objectives, he said.
In addition, Clarke mentioned the strain Smith is under now that he is batting at number nine, and he said he thinks Williamson can lead New Zealand’s run-scoring against Australia.
“Smith’s new task in his batting position comes with increased expectations from within. He stated, “Even though he was drawn to the challenge, his inner drive to succeed and maintain his career-long performance level will undoubtedly fuel his determination.
With 32 Test hundreds between them, Williamson and Smith have cemented their status as top performers, joining the likes of the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, and Kumar Sangakkara.
Their rivalry is intriguing because of their close records. Both Smith and Williamson might score their 33rd Test century in the next Australia vs. New Zealand Test series, which would heighten the tension between the two sides. In Test cricket, Williamson reached 32 hundreds at a faster pace than Smith. This demonstrates his ability to remain steady in the face of a variety of obstacles and circumstances.
Smith and Williamson have each played 107 and 98 Tests, respectively, with Smith accumulating 9634 runs at an average of 58.03 and 8666 runs at an average of 50.99. In the 2017–18 Ashes series against England, Steve Smith scored his greatest Test cricket score of 239. Conversely, Kane Williamson’s greatest Test score came in 2020 against the West Indies, with a score of 251.
The NZ vs. AUS Test series is slated to begin in Wellington, New Zealand, on February 29, 2024. From March 8–12, Christchurch will host the second Test.