Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo, Zimpapers Sports Hub
FOR over two decades, Sean Williams has been a symbol of consistency for the Chevrons, donning national colours with much pride.
Not many cricketers are capable of reaching new heights while maintaining the same level of consistency at the age of 38, worse at international level. Many have retired, forged new paths but Williams continues to stand tall for the Chevrons.
The recent two-match Test series between Zimbabwe and South Africa at Queens Sports Club was yet another reminder of the sheer class that the Bulawayo born Williams possesses. He continues to prove to be Zimbabwe’s ageless wonder.
Williams is ageing like wine and turning back the clock.
The ever-reliable Williams was the Chevrons’ leading man with 257 runs at an impressive average of 85.66. Only overshadowed by South Africa’s Wiaan Mulder.
Coming into the Test series against South Africa at home at the back of a brilliant second innings knock against England in May, where he made a fighting 88 runs, Williams showed his class in the first match against the neighbours with a brilliantly batted century.
Coming in to bat with Zimbabwe on 23/2, Williams produced a fine innings, scoring a gallant 137 runs off 165 deliveries. He scored more than half of the Chevrons’ first innings total in that Test match as the team was bundled out for 251, fighting a lone battle.
It was his sixth test century, helping him join an elite list of Zimbabwean cricketers. He now has the joint second most Test centuries for Zimbabwe tied with Brendan Taylor and Grant Flower, only behind Andy Flower who has 12 red-ball tons.
Interestingly, Zimbabwe has had 10 Test centuries in the last five years and five of those have been scored by the ever-consistent Williams. In that period, he has scored 1 311 runs.
At the moment, in just 22 matches, Williams has the second highest average for Zimbabwe in Tests at 48.07, only behind Andy Flower’s 51.54.
This year alone, he is the second leading Test run scorer in the world with 577 runs at an average of 52.45. He is only behind India’s Shubman Gill with 618 runs (recorded before he started batting in the ongoing test against England at Lord’s).
He has six Test centuries and seven half- centuries. His latest half-century was yet another phenomenal knock where he made an unbeaten 83 runs against the Proteas in the first innings of the second Test. He scored nearly half of the Chevrons’ first innings total.
