India, June 12 -- Some cricketers leave behind records, others leave behind memories. A select few set a standard for how the game should be played and Kane Williamson certainly belonged to that latter category.

Retiring in the middle of a series always feels a little unusual but most retired players say the same thing. One morning, they simply wake up and know. The body may still cooperate, the runs still stack up but something inside quietly tells them it is time.

For Williamson, that moment appeared to have arrived. When the New Zealand great announced his retirement from international cricket on Friday, the sport bid farewell not just to one of its finest batters, but also one of its best ambassadors.

In an era often defined by noi...