November 8, 2024: Ian Smith’s endorsement of Will Young as a key player for New Zealand at the number three position reflects the impressive form Young has shown, particularly during the recent Test series whitewash against India.
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Smith’s praise for Young emphasizes the right-hander’s technical solidity and ability to perform in difficult subcontinental conditions, where batting can be particularly challenging. With Young amassing 244 runs at an average of 48.80, his contributions were vital to New Zealand’s historic 3-0 series victory.
Smith also makes a compelling case for Young’s place in the top six, particularly at number three, arguing that despite not scoring a century, Young’s consistency and organization at the crease made him the standout performer in the series. The fact that the Player of the Series award was a unanimous decision among the commentary team underlines how highly his performance was regarded.
With the return of Kane Williamson on the horizon, there will inevitably be selection debates, but Smith believes Young has earned his place, and to leave him out would be a mistake. Smith even quotes the legendary Sunil Gavaskar, who commended Young’s technical proficiency, which further validates the notion that Young is not just a player for the present, but one for New Zealand’s future as well.
Smith’s perspective also reinforces the significance of New Zealand’s whitewash over India. Having witnessed it firsthand, he describes it as one of the greatest achievements in the history of New Zealand cricket, highlighting just how challenging it was to win in such tough conditions. This victory, coupled with Smith’s backing of Young, positions the young batter as a crucial element of New Zealand’s Test cricket setup going forward.