Doull brands 'match winner' Williamson Kiwis' 'glue'

Former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull has branded big-hitting batsman Kane Williamson as the glue that allows the squad to do what they want to do, and allows everyone to bat around him while winning matches for the team.

Doull claimed that New Zealand cannot be called the favourites for this Cricket World Cup as that tag doesn't sit well with them. He added that there is no doubt that the current crop of players are mentally tougher than some teams in the past, as Test wins against the likes of India, and Sri Lanka, show that, but hopes that that doesn't lead to a huge amount of undue expectation.

Doull wrote in his column for Stuff.co.nz that the public needs to realise that New Zealand cannot expect the world from this team and, if they don't, they might just get it.

The former swing bowler claimed that it only takes one or two special performances in a knockout game including a brilliant hundred, a great catch, a wicket at the top and all of a sudden one can win one of those games.

He admitted that New Zealand is capable of doing that but they can't put too much expectation on them.

Doull claimed that in the batting, Williamson is proving that if he fires he wins matches for New Zealand, adding that it is not so much when Brendon McCullum or Ross Taylor scores runs but more so with him.

Doull claimed that that's because everybody else can bat around Williamson, adding that he offers such stability at that number three role and McCullum, Corey Anderson and Martin Guptill can bat around him.

Doull insisted that anyone in that New Zealand set-up would say Williamson is the hardest worker, adding that he is the deepest thinker of the game. He insisted that the batsman has worked things out and now generates more power but also plays the spinners beautifully.

Doull claimed that Williamson would get to play another World Cup in his backyard, adding that the batsman knows the conditions well and he feels sure that the big-hitter would make the most of it.

Doull insisted that Williamson is the glue that allows the team to do what they want to do, adding that he is a craftsman and he goes about his job extremely well.