Tom Latham, who has captained New Zealand in 44 One-Day Internationals, is now taking up the captaincy in all formats. He took over the full-time leadership after Kane Williamson decided to step down. Latham, 32, would be the BEST replacement and he already filled in for Williamson. The lefty has been willing to take over this role since the World Cup 2023.
“It would obviously be a real honor,” Latham remarked on Wednesday (July 17). “For me, it’s always been about trying to prioritize the team as much as possible. I’m sure they’ll have those discussions about what they want as a team, and if I get the chance to do that, it would be quite great.”
It remains to be seen whether New Zealand will now have a single captain for both white-ball sides. No doubt, Tom Latham always gives his best in Test format. But this time, he’ll have to lead to all three sides. Though, he has not played in a T20I XI in over a year.
Tom Latham on the Shortlist for Captaincy
Coach Gary Stead said that Tom Latham was clearly on the shortlist to be named captain. Well, the management had not reached the final level of selection till now. “We have not yet verified anything, So I’m not sure whether Tom will be named captain. However, he will undoubtedly be considered for the role,” Stead added.
But, what’s the reason behind this major replacement? The actual need for a captaincy change arose as a result of New Zealand’s recent setbacks. These were mainly caused by Trent Boult’s choice to skip his central contract to play in various T20 leagues worldwide.
Also, the poor T20 World Cup campaign last month can be a reason. Williamson, Lockie Ferguson, and Adam Milne – three players rejected the central contracts. They chose a casual agreement instead. Now, Williamson is predicted to be a part of the majority of New Zealand’s international series in all three formats. He quit the captaincy, but Williamson will play the matches that coincide with the SA20 in January of next year.
“I believe the direction of cricket in New Zealand is a little different right now. It’s not a black-and-white scenario, and it’s changing as new leagues emerge. Everyone’s future looks different depending on their age or stage of life,” Tom Latham said.
Latham Shares His Plan For Future
https://gty.im/2043836201
Tom Latham noted that the flexible contract arrangement has worked well since its start. However, with the increasing number of T20 leagues and the shifting cricket scene, the board and players’ association may need to reconsider. The captain stated:
Over time, we’ve seen that we don’t always have those senior people. As a senior player, this empowers me to take the initiative and lead. But other guys haven’t had the opportunity in the past to rise in other leadership roles. It’s never good to miss somebody like Kane, but it allows other guys to put their best foot forward.
Just after they tour India in October of this year, the Black Caps will have a busy summer. They scheduled the series with England, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan both before and after the Champions Trophy. The 32-year-old added:
We shall play a lot of cricket this summer, including a 2025 Champion Trophy. It is exciting and anticipated. So, whether it’s with other personnel, or with the folks we’re used to having. Whenever we can have them, I’m sure it will be terrific, but I think we’ve had to be pretty flexible with what things look like in the future.
For More Great Content
Check out all the great content Total Apex Sports has to offer. Check us out on X @TotalApexSports right now and our other sites: Total Apex Sports Bets and Total Apex Fantasy Sports.
