In-form Latham faces fight for spot

He has a century to his name and a cricket tri-series trophy in the bag, but Tom Latham’s spot in New Zealand’s Champions Trophy XI to face Australia remains far from guaranteed.

That curious prospect remains after the Black Caps’ 190-run stroll over Ireland in Dublin, ensuring them of the silverware with tomorrow’s final one-day international against Bangladesh remaining.

Stand-in captain Latham’s 104 off 111 balls – his third ODI century – led New Zealand’s total of 344-6 at Malahide after he and Luke Ronchi rattled up an opening stand of 70 off 10 overs. Just one of them will open with Martin Guptill and keep wicket against Australia at Edgbaston on June 2.

From yesterday’s XI only three others – Ross Taylor, Neil Broom and Mitchell Santner – are sure bets to play against the world champions as the Indian Premier League brigade including skipper Kane Williamson finally arrive in London this week.

So there’s a few returnees to be fitted in, and lengthy selection conversations to be had in the next week across warmup matches against India at The Oval on Sunday, and Sri Lanka two days later.

Ronchi still looks a distinct prospect of being handed the gloves and licence to blaze away at the top alongside Guptill, with Williamson and Taylor the anchors and Broom a solid No 5 before the allrounders.

In three innings in Ireland, Ronchi has 99 runs at a strike rate of 118 and highest score of 37. His last ODI half-century was scored before 2015 World Cup. In those same three matches Latham has 173 runs at a strike rate of 87.

Ronchi is the better gloveman and that is important, with coach Mike Hesson raising the prospect before departure of New Zealand playing two spinners Santner and Jeetan Patel, who joins the squad from his Edgbaston base for the Bangladesh game.

Ronchi looked in good nick in getting a flyer in his three Dublin innings to date, and was skittled by a good one that nipped back yesterday. Ideally he needed a big one but he’s played well and looked confident enough to be worth a punt in the big show against Australia’s and England’s pace attacks. A blazing 50 off 35 balls, a la Brendon Mccullum, on what are expected to be flat pitches and high-scoring matches in the UK, and it gives New Zealand crucial momentum for a big total.

Hesson might also be persuaded by Latham’s run drought when handed the gloves against Australia and South Africa in February.

Said Latham: ‘‘It’s a great problem for the selectors to have. The more the other guys can step up and keep contributing the better that is.’’

Another notable returnee was Adam Milne (1-29 off eight overs), after bowling 14 overs in four IPL matches and playing his first ODI since February 2016. The fast bowler arrived in Ireland with a minor side strain so to get through eight overs was encouraging, but they’ll want him to back up strongly tomorrow with his injury history.

Fellow quick Mitchell Mcclenaghan is also a slight concern after injury sidelined him from Mumbai Indians’ final two matches in their victorious IPL campaign. He’ll be assessed on arrival in London, but it will leave Matt Henry and Hamish Bennett on tenterhooks for potential injury callups to the Champions Trophy.

Henry took 3-36 off eight overs in his first ODI since December 31 while Bennett was rested. The latter will surely play tomorrow and on domestic form has the all-round skill to be front of the fast bowling queue should injury strike.

Latham was happy with the bowling and near overjoyed with the fielding – after some sloppy ground work in the previous game – as New Zealand skittled Ireland for 154 in the 40th over.

‘‘We want to improve again on what we did today and if we can do that then hopefully we can hit the Champions Trophy running. With a tournament like that it’s important you start well.’’