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Live sport on SN this weekendWhy Kane Williamson doesn't miss international cricket - but may play again
Alex Chapman • November 13th, 2026 6:00 am
Kane Williamson | Photo: Photosport
It's been five months since Kane Williamson zipped up his kit bag and shocked the cricket world with his international retirement.
He doesn't miss it. In fact, he's barely picked up a bat since.
"And I'll tell you why," he explained to Sport Nation.
"Because for me, the game was this pursuit and to be able to sort of be driven towards that every day, be totally passionate and invested in it, is the best thing ever."
That pursuit though came at a cost - one Williamson knows too well.
"When the balance started to shift in my life through my situation and having young kids in a family and trying to get that balance right, it was kind of only getting a little further away from each other rather than back together.
Kane Williamson's reflections on the 2019 World Cup final as his book 'The Bare Margins' is released | Cricket Nation
Williamson has "really enjoyed" the time since that final test at Lord's, a period he laughs simultaneously feels like yesterday and 10 years ago.
He's spent more time, and rare extended periods with his family, has finally been bitten by the golf bug.
He also finished writing his book The Bare Margins which was released this week with the intent "to try and document the evolution of the team through my eyes" and his "view and story around how I tried to approach what I did."
"And I think that's why I've really enjoyed the last five months as well." he added.
"I know what it takes and I know the cost of it as well, and so you can't sort of have one without the other and I've enjoyed it.
"I left the game loving it really and loving the team and knowing it's in a really good place and now I'm a fan of the team.
"But I'm not missing that part of it because for me it wasn't turning up and just playing. It wasn't just to be a name on the team sheet. There was a lot more to it and the only way to do it like that is to be fully invested and consumed with the sport."
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That's not to say he's done with cricket though.
Barely had the retirement ripples eased, he'd dipped his toe into coaching waters as batting coach with the Manchester Super Giants in The Hundred.
He's also previously been a strategic advisor at the Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League.
Playing also remains an option, but he conceded it would take something special to lure him back to the crease.
"I'm sort of working through that (his future) at the moment. All cards are on the table, I had a little bit of coaching experience in the last sort of six months, which was fun.
"I'm quite relaxed about it. I'm playing a bit of golf and I'm really enjoying that challenge and it's fun and I love the game.
"To play I'd need something quite juicy I reckon. And then if I was to do that, then there would be other playing around it. So that's a real commitment. And at this stage, that's not really what I'm looking at.
"So am I going to play? Probably not. But it's not final."
Listen to the full interview below:
