Latham’s learning curve
Unable to buy a run at the end of last summer, Tom Latham admits he’s grown from the toughest patch of his career.
Saturday’s second one-day international against the West Indies at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval will be one to savour for the Cantabrian, captaining the Black Caps at his home ground.
With skipper Kane Williamson rested for the final two one-dayers, Latham will look to lead the side to a series victory after Wednesday’s comfortable five-wicket win in Whangarei in the opening match.
It won’t be the first time he’s led his country.
He guided New Zealand in four one-dayers against Bangladesh and Ireland during a preChampions Trophy tri-series in May.
Not so long ago, the wicketkeeper-batsman was under intense scrutiny for his place in the first-choice ODI XI.
He had a dreadful period to close out the last home summer, amassing just nine runs in five innings opening against the quality Australian and South African attacks, which included three ducks.
Latham was dropped for the final two ODIs against South Africa, but retained his place for the test series.
Horribly out of form, down on confidence and guilty of being dismissed lbw or caught, falling over on a leg stump line, he looked devoid of answers.
Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium was the scene of a breakthrough innings for him on October 22, hitting his most important white ball knock in the black shirt.
Switching to the No 5 slot, Latham notched a composed 103 not out from 102 balls, judging the tempo of the run chase perfectly to haul down India’s 280.
He backed that up with 38 in the second match in Pune and was impressive again in the final ODI in Kanpur, scoring 65 in a narrow six-run loss.
Those morale-boosting displays followed on from 104 against Ireland and 84 against Bangladesh in May’s tri-series when he was opening.
Latham described last summer’s lean run as the most challenging chapter of his career but believed he’d become a better batsman because of it.
‘‘It was the first time I have been under quite a bit of pressure like that,’’ he said. ‘‘You probably learn more from times like that, than if you’re going well.’’
He didn’t make any drastic changes to his technique.
‘‘To me, it’s probably more about trusting your game, rather than trying to go out and change things.