New Zealand made a strong statement in the third and final Test of the 2024-25 series against England, thrashing the visitors by a massive 423 runs to end the series 2-1 in England’s favor. The Kiwis put on a clinical display with both bat and ball, bowling England out for just 234 runs in their second innings after setting an imposing target.

While England claimed the series, New Zealand's dominant performance in the final Test was a morale-boosting finish. This emphatic win was bittersweet, however, as it came amidst the retirement of Tim Southee from Test cricket and increasing speculation about the future of Kane Williamson in the format.

The focus has now shifted to Williamson, who has been a pillar of New Zealand’s Test lineup for years. His future in Test cricket came into question after he turned down a central contract from New Zealand Cricket (NZC) for the 2024-25 cycle. 

Coupled with his ongoing battle with injuries particularly a recurring elbow injury, a hamstring problem, and a right knee injury fans and cricket pundits are wondering whether the former captain will don the whites again for New Zealand.

Williamson's standout performance in the third Test, where he scored a brilliant 156 off 204 balls for his 33rd Test century, was a reminder of his immense talent. The century not only demoralized the England bowling attack but also proved that he remains one of the most formidable batters in the game. However, despite this performance, Williamson remained non-committal about his future in Test cricket.

Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, Williamson commented on his Test future, saying: “It's so far away at the moment. I'm just focusing on right now and getting through the rest of the summer, really. There's a bunch of different cricket coming up, and the Champions Trophy, obviously, which is exciting. Yeah, just see how it goes. I love Test cricket. As you mention, there's not a huge amount of it for some time, such is the schedule.”

New Zealand is not set to play another Test match for the next eight months, with their next assignment being a two-match Test series against Zimbabwe in July. With such a long gap in Test fixtures, Williamson’s plans for the format remain unclear, though his love for the red-ball game is apparent.