Kiwi bowls worst delivery since John Howard

As a bowler, Kane Williamson makes one hell of a batsman, as evidenced by one of the worst balls in international cricket history.

The Black Caps captain had the calamitous moment during his side's tense loss in the first one-day match against South Africa in Hamilton.

Williamson inserted himself into the bowling attack, but he's probably wishing he hadn't after sending down a woeful spinner that bounced twice before reaching the batsman.

While it wasn't as bad as former Australian Prime Minister John Howard's infamous delivery, the commentators remarked that they'd never seen anything like it in international cricket.

"You're kidding me, hold it, that's bounced twice!" one of the commentators laughed in complete amazement.

"That's never been seen before at international level."

The Black Caps skipper made light of the embarrassing delivery after the match, and even managed to find a positive.

"It was quite effective today!" Williamson joked. "I clipped my leg and I didn't want to let go of it.

"But it was a dot ball - that's the main thing!"

Williamson top-scored for his side with the bat, clubbing 59 runs to help New Zealand reach 7/207.

But the Proteas got home with one ball to spare after an unbeaten 37 from AB de Villiers and a 69 from Quinton de Kock.

Williamson can even console himself with the fact that his delivery wasn't the worst ever seen on the international stage.

That 'honour' would almost certainly have to be bestowed upon Ravindra Jedeja, whose awful delivery in a Test match against England was so bad it defied logic.

Then of course there was this clanger from West Indies star Phil Simmons to Allan Border, during a Test match against Australia.