News
Latham named New Zealand captain for Bangladesh Tests, Patel misses out
NEWS
Follow UsTom Latham led New Zealand in the second Test against India in Mumbai after Kane Williamson was sidelined due to elbow injury
Left-handed batter Tom Latham has been named New Zealand's captain for the two-match Test Series against Bangladesh, starting at Bay Oval on New Year’s Day.
With regular captain Kane Williamson ruled out with an elbow injury, Latham will lead the side for an entire series for the first time, having stepped in to fill the role on four previous occasions. The top-order batter led the side in the second Test against India in Mumbai earlier this month.
The hosts named Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Neil Wagner, Kyle Jamieson and Matt Henry as part of the pace attack while Devon Conway returned to the squad after suffering a hand fracture during T20 World Cup semi-final against England in November.
There’s no space for a specialist spinner in the 13-man squad, which meant Ajaz Patel was dropped despite his heroics in India where he became the third bowler in history to claim all 10 wickets in a Test innings. Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell covering the spin and seam all-rounder spots.
Black Caps coach Gary Stead was confident that all bases covered for both Bay Oval and Hagley Oval.
“It’s great to be back home and at venues we know well, and where we’ve had success in recent times” said Stead.
“It’s obviously disappointing not to have Kane available for this series but, as we noted in India, he is undergoing a sustained period of rest followed by rehabilitation, strengthening and gradual batting loading. We have every confidence in Tom leading the side - he’s done an excellent job in the past when called upon.
Stead clarified that Patel's omission was purely tactical.
“You do feel for Ajaz after his record-breaking display in India. However, we’ve always applied a horses-for-courses selection policy and believe the players selected best fit the way we want to take on Bangladesh here at home,” he said.
New Zealand Test Squad: Tom Latham (c), Tom Blundell (wk), Trent Boult, Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, Will Young