Kane Williamson had a dismal IPL season, but New Zealand coach Gary Stead believes a change in format from Twenty20s to Tests would help the 31-year-old regain form in the three-match series against England next month.

Williamson has returned home from the IPL to witness the birth of his second kid after scoring 216 runs in 13 games with a strike rate of 93.5, the lowest among batters with a minimum of 100 runs.

After surviving a niggling elbow injury in the opening match against England at Lord’s on June 2, the New Zealand captain is set to return to Test cricket.

“He’s a bit disappointed he hasn’t got the runs he wanted during the IPL,” Stead told reporters.

“You don’t often see the great players often miss out perhaps as much as he has, but I think what we have to understand, coming back into red-ball cricket, I think that will suit where he’s at with his game, his temperament as well.”

Williamson is set to play in New Zealand’s final warm-up game later this month in Chelmsford, according to Stead.

“They’re having the baby in the next three or four days, and then he will be back three or four days after that,” the coach said.

After his Kolkata Knight Riders were eliminated from the playoff race on Wednesday, Tim Southee is also expected to join the team in England.

However, with the Rajasthan Royals poised to participate in the playoffs, fast bowler Trent Boult and batting all-rounder Daryl Mitchell will remain in India.

“The only question mark for us is if people are in the IPL final, the closeness of that to the first test and whether they are ready or not,” Stead said.

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