"No place for Discrimination, Racism in sport and society"

Blackcaps Captain Kane Williamson addressed media ahead of England vs New Zealand 3rd Test at headingley, Leeds on Wednesday

Kane, first of all how's your health and are you ready to play?

It's pretty good obviously pretty frustrating to miss the last test through covi d but you know great to be back in the field

 Is there internal pressure in the side to assert yourselves as world champions in this test?

I mean no our focus really for us is to keep trying to get better and we know we're up against a strong English side and they're always a tough side to play against so for us it's trying to learn from you know some of those lessons along the way we've had two really good games that could have gone either way and they've had some pretty special performances that you know have really driven their side forward so you know for us it's there's been a lot of good things but we do want to be getting better

Any thoughts at this stage on team selection and whether Neil Wagner or Ajaz Patel will come into the frame?

I mean both are in consideration obviously two guys have joined the squad and Dane Cleaver, Blair Tickner but we have we have a 13 and both those two won't be involved in this next test match so we do want to have another look at the wicket just arrived and then we'll confirm our balance tomorrow

Just in a wider scope I mean you've spent some time playing you also have had the troubles of late what have you made of that whole scenario?

Yeah I mean it's been incredibly sad to see what has unfolded and I can only hope that you know something positive comes out of that and the awareness that certainly it's created to move forward in a you know in a positive manner and there's certainly no place for Discrimination, Racism in sport or in society.

Have you been surprised at all by the outcome of what's going on here bearing in mind the time that you spent there?

I was here for you know a few brief stints and you know enjoyed my time here at Yorkshire and you know but that clearly there were you know some issues that you know I was made aware certainly more recently and like I say you can only hope that through this you know there's healing but the awareness you know that's been created that there's positivity to come out of it and certainly a lot of improvement in that area and move forward in the right way

As a leader as a captain of a nation is that something that you're quite serious about and hot on you know it's not something that's kind of unique to the UK so how do your kind of view that subject?

Absolutely it's yeah it's been a huge amount of awareness throughout the whole world and it's certainly not in certain areas it's everywhere we can all make efforts to continue that awareness and make it a more inclusive place you know whether it's in your sporting environments or other working environments or anything in society so you know it's something that's clearly been required and very important to continue

How did you take in the trap bridge test did you watch every ball were you in your hotel room for the entire duration of the game?

Largely I mean look it was a you know a test where both teams certainly put their front foot forward and played some shots and there was it was fast scoring and it was in the balance much like the first test so yeah I mean I watched a lot of it I didn't have too much else to do and you know it was a it was a good game of cricket and you know for us it's about improving as a side and those are the things we want to continue to focus on the bigger picture you know England are a very strong side and are playing really well so we want to focus on our cricket and those small improvements we can look to make

Some of the shouts of the TV when you're a good watcher of cricket or do you kind of?

I don't know I don't shout out the TV yeah I just watch and observe and like you know it's always interesting you know seeing it from a slightly different perspective although it wasn't my preferable place to be but you know so it's interesting to watch and yeah and sort of connect from the other side a little bit you know having said that you know there was a lot of effort that went into that match and you know we saw an amazing knock from Jonny on that last day which you know was cricket and you do have to applaud the quality that that England have certainly come into the series with and that's great and for us it's building and looking to improve on those performances and keep putting out competitive performances and looking to put the opposition under pressure in different ways

Does it make it easier to come back in as captain and kind of pick the guys up because you weren't because you were detached from that performance that you were able to come in and sort of fresh energy and refreshing things?

I suppose you I mean you weren't playing but you probably went I wouldn't say detached you know like I say the picture's big it's not just sort of one game at a time that the measure's on it's how are we tracking and you know there have been a couple of good performances I need to be better on the day by a strong English outfit so you know it's trying to just take that big picture into account keep trying to move forward in our way and learn from some lessons

Cases in the camp has that been unsettling?

I think goodness like as I knew sort of being I suppose you'd say minor symptoms you know colds some fevers and things so that's a positive that the health hasn't been sort of too poorly but and then frustrating as well you know obviously there's always that risk and yeah and it's a shame that it is quite disruptive but it's the nature of the beast and you know guys are fit and looking forward to the next match

Did you rap does your appetite for the captaincy remain as strong as ever you obviously through sort of injury and then illness last week it's been sort of always between you and tom so?

I mean it's been an interesting period with injuries and some covert and other bits and pieces but you know the picture you know of leadership in the side you know something I’m very passionate about and certainly love playing for my country and there are a number of leaders in the team that that share that passion and want to see this team continue to move forward and take steps forward and become a better side and so that's very much there

They're clearly intent on playing this aggressive style of cricket it's worked for them so far but to what extent do you feel is that sustainable and be that it presents opportunities for you guys to exploit?

I mean their style is theirs and yeah like you mentioned it appears to have evolved a little bit and you know for us it's focusing on our cricket and looking to like I say try and identify different areas of the game to perhaps target and I guess be aware that you know they're choosing to play a slightly different brand that you know seems to be suiting them and they're playing some good cricket so yeah the focus is for us and our cricket and wanting to be better.

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