Williamson relishing ‘special’ Boxing Day Test against ‘strong’ Pakistan side

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson is relishing the opportunity to play the Boxing Day Test match against Pakistan in his hometown, Tauranga, which will allow him to spend this year’s Christmas with his family.

The 30-year-old did not feature in New Zealand’s second-Test victory over the West Indies in Wellington last week, to be at home in Tauranga with wife Sarah Raheem ahead of the arrival of their first child. He also missed the first Twenty20 International (T20I) against Pakistan on Friday, before returning for the last two games of the series.

“Playing a Boxing Day test at home is really special and so is having Christmas at home. It's a slightly different feeling when you have Christmas and you're in a hotel room somewhere and it will be really nice to spend it with family this year and I know pretty much all the guys have their families around as well to do that,” Williamson was quoted as saying by stuff.co.nz.

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However, the Tauranga-born cricketer believes that Test cricket will be a different challenge for the Kiwis on a new pitch against a strong Pakistan side.

“It’s always mixed watching, though I had other things on my mind, which was great. You miss the guys when you’re used to playing with each other, but then it was really, really nice to see them play so well and work through a number of tough periods on a wicket that was sporting,” he said.

“It’s important that we reassess and see where we need to be on a new surface and against a strong side in Pakistan,” he added.

Meanwhile, Pakistan have got their work cut out as they will be without the services of their Test skipper Babar Azam, who was ruled out of the first Test due to a thumb injury, as well as opener Imamul Haq and all-rounder Shadab Khan.