Kane Williamson ends 2015 with 5 centuries in the year

When Kane Williamson hit Dushmantha Chameera for a four in the 50^th over during the second innings of the second Test between New Zealand and Sri Lanka, to notch up his 5^th century in this calendar year – 2015. With the century, the 13^th of his career, he not only led his side to a win with an unbeaten 108 to seal the series 2-0 but also reached a personal milestone. He became the first ever New Zealand batsman to score 5 Test hundreds in a calendar year.

Interestingly, Williamson, the number one Test batsman in the world, also held the previous record for most centuries in a calendar year with 4 centuries to his name in 2014. He was the joint holder of the record then with the New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum.

With the century, Williamson became the 2^nd batsman in the world to score 5 centuries this year, he joined the list that already had Australian skipper Steven Smith. Smith, who is ranked at number 4 in the ICC Test rankings has been in tremendous form since last 18 months. Smith hit his first century of this year against India in January and followed it up with a gallant 199 against West Indies at Kingston, 5 months later. The opportunity of a double century was missed then, which he capitalized against England in July this year by scoring 215 at the Lord’s in the Ashes. He followed it up with another ton at The Oval. His latest century of this year came against New Zealand at the drawn WACA Test where he scored 138. Prior to this, Smith also had 5 centuries in 2014 to his name.

Williamson had an even more handsome start to the year with an unbeaten 242 against Sri Lanka at Wellington. 132 at the Lord’s waited for this right-handed batsman too right after the World Cup in May. In the last couple of months, he struck form of pure gold as he mustered 3 centuries – 140 against Australia at Brisbane, 166 against Australia at Perth and the most recent one being his unbeaten 108 against Sri Lanka.

Williamson in the process became the 49^th batsman in the history of the game to score 5 or more centuries in a calendar year; Mohd. Yousuf of Pakistan holds the record for most centuries in a calendar year with 9 tons in 2006.

Stats by HR Gopal Krishna