Lessons learnt in last year’s series paid off, says Latham
PUNE: A couple of days before the series against India got underway, New Zealand coach Mike Hesson stated that he would prefer Tom Latham to switch to the middle order. Hesson would have been pleased with the way the ploy to demote Tom Latham in the batting order has worked.
Latham struck a half-century in the first warm-up and followed it up with unbeaten tons in the second warm-up and the first ODI, thus helping his side take 1-0 lead over India in the threematch series. A shift in batting positions usually takes some time for a player to settle but Latham, who had started his journey as a middle order batsman, knew exactly what was required of him.
“It was nice to have those two warm-up games beforehand, and contribute in those games and start against spin. I have played in that position (No 5) before when I started playing for New Zealand. So, it’s not a position which is unfamiliar to me. It was more of a tactical shift than anything. Coming in the middle when the ball is little bit softer and playing a bit more spin. It is nice that I adapted quickly,” he said.
Latham built a 200-run partnership with Ross Taylor on Sunday after coming in to bat with the scoreboard reading 81 for the loss of three wickets. Playing spin in India is always a challenge for most visiting teams but barring the first warm-up game, the Kiwis didn’t look too troubled. India’s two wrist-spinners went for a combined 125 runs while picking up just one wicket and Latham stated that it was a result of the preparations back home.
“We had a lot of preparation back home, coming out of the winter. When we come to India, it is obviously massive focus on spin and we were lucky enough to be here last year, so we knew a little bit how India played and watching them against the Australian team, so lot of work in terms of spin and playing in the middle, and it was nice that it came off the other day,” he added.
He also credited last year’s series, which ended 3-2 in favour of the hosts, as a learning curve. “Having that experience coming over here last year and contributing a little bit, it was nice to have that experience and took a little bit of confidence from those games. (I) put little bit of work in terms of coming over here and playing spin. On surfaces back home they were a little bit drier and quite responsive to spin. So, that was (a part) of the preparation. The series started well and the preparations are coming off.”