ICC T20 WORLD CUP 2021

October 25, 2021

Kane Williamson

Sharjah Stadium

New Zealand

Pre Match Media Conference

Q. How do you rate Pakistan's victory against India, and what do you expect from Pakistan tomorrow?

KANE WILLIAMSON: Yeah, I mean, it was a fantastic performance. I think Pakistan have come to the T20 World Cup full of confidence, having played in these conditions more than most. They certainly put it on show last night and showed why they're one of the favourites in the competition.

Tomorrow I'm sure they'll be very strong again, so for us, it's focusing on the cricket that we want to play and trying to adjust to conditions. I think we'll see throughout this tournament at the three different venues that each venue will probably playing a little bit differently, so that will be an important factor for us.

Q. The circumstances under which New Zealand abandoned the tour of Pakistan were unfortunate. Of course New Zealand acted on government's advice. Do you feel there will be some acrimony, sort of a grudge match for Pakistan?

KANE WILLIAMSON: Like you mentioned, it was a really disappointing situation. I know the team that were there were very much looking forward to the occasion and playing cricket over in Pakistan, and it was a real shame that it wasn't able to go ahead.

Yeah, having said that, I suppose the focus now is here at the T20 World Cup, and no doubt after last night's performance, Pakistan have some momentum and are feeling pretty good about their cricket.

But there are also a lot of good relations within the two teams. Over the years they've played a lot against each other, and a number of players have played with each other, as well. I'm sure it'll be played in the right spirit, but no doubt Pakistan will be well supported, as they always are here in the UAE.

Q. Are you expecting to have a quite flexible batting lineup throughout the tournament or do you expect to settle into fixed roles early on?

KANE WILLIAMSON: Yeah, we want to be open-minded. I think with these three venues playing quite differently at times, we want to be flexible in our approach, and that is important to us as a team, especially a T20 side. It's trying to make those adjustments and those changes in real time. As a unit, we want to be prepared to do that.

Q. You mentioned the venues; what did you learn about playing in Sharjah specifically from the IPL?

KANE WILLIAMSON: Yeah, I mean, it was certainly -- it was a bit of a challenge in terms of any rhythm and fluency with the bat, and with the ball there was a lot of plans that went in place to try and combat that.

Often you go to Sharjah and historically the surface has been very good and it's been very high scoring. We're sort of seeing two ends of the spectrum there, and I think it's important to go there with an open mind. We saw a good game of cricket there yesterday, and there was some high scores, as well.

But yeah, the most recent experiences there is it's sort of been somewhat of a challenge and quite a scrappy sort of surface, so we'll have to wait and see.

Q. First of all, please tell me how do you see the Pakistan bowling lineup and the strength of batting because Pakistan in the past has proved to be a bowling dominant side. Now their batting is also clicking; Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan is playing like they are just made for the cricket.

KANE WILLIAMSON: Yeah, I mean, they've got a very well-balanced side, and also a great mix between youth and experience with Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik in the middle order, as well, which brings a lot of experience to the side.

You mentioned Rizwan and Babar at the top of the order who have been formidable in terms of their partnership and the quality that they bring. A very well-balanced side and also a side that's very accustomed to playing conditions and playing cricket here in the UAE.

Without a doubt they're coming into this tournament feeling pretty good about their chances, but having said that, in tournament sport and particularly in T20 cricket, every team, I think, turns up with confidence knowing that on their day, anything can happen.

For us, it's about focusing on the style of cricket that we want to play, which is important to us as a team, but we know we're coming up against a very strong team in Pakistan, and I think every opposition that you play against, you prepare as well as you can to take them on at their best.

We saw the best out of Pakistan in their last match against India, which was a fantastic performance.

Q. There were a few injury concerns last week; is everyone available for selection? And how is your elbow?

KANE WILLIAMSON: Yeah, there's been a few, but I believe everybody currently is fit or fit enough. My elbow is improving. It's just been an ongoing sort of challenge to deal with it regarding loading and these sorts of things.

It's just a work in progress. But I think all in all, it's showing improvement, which is good.

Q. Has the team had any particular training to deal with the conditions such as dew which may be expected at some venues?

KANE WILLIAMSON: Yeah, I mean, I think we saw that also at the back end of the IPL, as well, where it did become a factor, so no doubt it will be a factor throughout this tournament. As a side we're trying to prepare as well as we can, and I think largely those sorts of, I guess, elements of the game, they're often dealt with in the moment. Sometimes the surfaces that you train or conditions that you have to practice with don't perfectly marry up, and that's just the nature of what we do.

As a side it's trying to rely on the experience that is there and share that to sort of take on those added challenges with conditions.

Q. Being one of if not the last team to feature in their first game at the event, how does that force you to reassess strategy and approach, having seen the other teams that have already played at the event?

KANE WILLIAMSON: Yeah, I mean, we've seen sort of a match or two at Sharjah, I guess, specifically. Yeah, I haven't thought too much about where we were in coming out to play except from our preparation and how it is we want to adapt to conditions against naturally the opposition that you're coming up against from game to game.

That's still our focus, and it's nice to get going and start tomorrow.

Q. Obviously having won the inaugural ICC Test Championship final in June, how does that victory boost the team's confidence ahead of this event?

KANE WILLIAMSON: Yeah, I mean, naturally different formats, but a great moment for cricket in our country and one that we truly cherished, and as we know with the schedule and the international format, it's sort of always something else coming up. We really enjoyed that moment, but also the focus changes and things are different with the different formats and a different side largely, as well.

Yep, something we really enjoyed, but the challenges come thick and fast, and we're here in the UAE with very much another challenge on our mind and something we want to put all our focus into.