Williams’ wife proud of his feat

STAFF WRITER

SEAN Williams’s wife Chantelle has expressed pride at her husband’s long career after the Zimbabwe kingpin clocked 20 years as an international cricketer.

Injury and withdrawal from a format of the game however denied 38-year-old Wiliams a fairytale occasion to celebrate his milestone in unique style. Had Williams played in the just-ended One-Day International (ODI) series against Ireland, the span between his first ODI and most recent ODI would have missed two decades by just a week.

The Zimbabwe star batsman made his ODI debut against South Africa in Johannesburg on 25 February 2005, at the age of 18.

Williams still plays for Zimbabwe in Test and ODI cricket but has retired from the shortest format, T20.

Bulawayo-born Williams becomes only the fourth cricketer in the world to have played ODI cricket for 20 years. You only have to take a look at the names of the global greats of the game to have achieved that feat before Williams, to understand the enormous exploit: Sachin Tendulkar, Javed Miandad, Sanath Jayasuriya.

This week, Zimbabwe took on Ireland in the final match of a three-match T20 series, which was abandoned mid-way due to rain, wrapping up the Irishmen’s all-format tour of the Southern African country.

Had all-rounder Williams not called time on his T20 career and played in that match at Harare Sports Clun on Wednesday, it would have been exactly 20 years since he first played for his country in limited-overs cricket, commonly known now as white-ball cricket.

But it doesn’t take the shine off Williams’ accomplishment, remaining available to play for Zimbabwe as he continues to 20 years on.

Wife Chantelle, a Zimbabwe national women’s hockey team player, led the cheers.

“Words will not suffice. We are so proud of you!” Chantelle posted on X on Wednesday.

“Two decades of playing cricket for your country with the utmost pride and dedication. Today you join some of the greatest in world cricket. Hasn’t been an easy ride but you have reached some milestone.”

Chantelle’s post appeared to hint on Williams’ retirement from the game, with his legion of fans across the world seeking clarification.

She replied: “Just for clarity – this is nothing but a congratulatory post for reaching this milestone. Strength to him! He presses on!”

Chantelle, like Williams, hails from a Bulawayo hockey-loving family. Sean Williams himself played provincial hockey for Matabeleland. His young brother Matthew Williams represented Zimbabwe at international level in the sport, and their step-brother Michael McKillop captained Zimbabwe’s men hockey side for a number of years.

Their late father Collin ‘Porge’ Williams was a former national hockey player who went on to coach Zimbabwe’s men side in later years. But the greatest hockey personality in the Williams family is mother Pat, the tournament’s joint-top scorer when Zimbabwe sensationally won the gold medal at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow.

Chantelle and her mother-in-law are always seen together supporting Sean and Zimbabwe’s team during international games, especially at Queens Sports Club in their beloved Bulawayo hometown.

Wiliams has featured for Zimbabwe in 17 Test matches, 162 ODIs and 81 T20s.