If Allan Border could choose one person to bat for his life, it would be Kane Williamson.
The former Australian captain paid the Black Cap the ultimate compliment on Thursday, saying Williamson's textbook technique places him above the world's best.
"Of all the gun batsmen going around, he would be the one I'd choose to bat for my life," Border told foxsports.com.au.
"Over AB de Villiers, in front of Steve Smith, in front of Warner, in front of all of them."
At 25, Williamson has already scored 11 Test centuries, placing him in the upper echelons of high achieving youngsters, next to the likes of Donald Bradman and Sachin Tendulkar.
At the same age, he has scored more runs than Bradman while batting at No.3, with only South African Jacques Kallis compiling more.
He was also New Zealand's only resistance in the first Test against Australia at the Gabba, scoring a lone 140 in a first innings where no one else passed 50.
"Technically, he's probably as equipped as any of them because I think he can take that technique to all different types of pitches," Border said.
"You know, Virat Kohli got found out in England. I think Joe Root's right up there, I've got a lot of time for him.
"Steve Smith's probably there too but he's a little bit more fidgety at the crease, so sometimes that affects the visuals about how technically correct he is.
"But I think Kane Williamson, he does everything correctly technically.
"He's very still at the crease, plays all the shots. I think he's equally as comfortable against the spin and pace bowling."
There has been an outpouring of praise for Williamson from pundits after the first Test - and relatively little for Australia's batsmen.
"Doesn't bother me at all. He's a quality player and he's someone we're going to have to get out early this week," Smith said.
"He holds their order together quite well.
"His eagerness to bat time holds him in good stead. He plays the ball really late."
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