Strokemakers urged to bat time – Latham

Their bowlers have already made an impression in unfavourable conditions, and now the Black Caps batsmen must make inroads against Zimbabwe in a confidencebuilding exercise for tougher tests on the horizon.

Although the pitches produced for the two-match series are likely to bear little resemblance to the wickets awaiting New Zealand in Durban and Centurion, contests against an inexperienced Zimbabwean side should at least give the batting order sufficient time to adjust to the demands of test cricket in South Africa next month.

Opener Tom Latham, one of the Black Caps’ most compact, constrained strokemakers, underscored the need to make use of tests against an inexperienced Zimbabwean side that is yet be play enough games in the ICC’s rating period to warrant a ranking.

‘‘Obviously the conditions are quite low and slow compared to what we have back home so I think that’s probably been the biggest thing that we’ve needed to adjust to,’’ said Latham, ahead of the first test starting at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Thursday.

"It’s going to be a surface that you’re not going to blast a team out for not many, so it’s about being patient and playing the long game.

The Black Caps, who last played a test in Latham’s home town of Christchurch against Australia in February, opened their tour with an emphatic 258-run win over Zimbabwe A in Harare. Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi and Martin Guptill – the only batsman dismissed – compiled half centuries.

‘‘It was a good three days for the whole group. I think everyone managed to spend a little bit of time at the crease and everyone got enough overs under their belt to put them in good stead for the test match coming up,’’ said Latham, who made 24 in each innings.

Zimbabwe suffered a serious blow to their pace bowling stocks after leading quick Tendai Chatara aggravated an ankle injury after bowling 16 overs in the Black Caps’ first innings. Chatara was the most experienced test bowler in the squad with seven caps following the demise of fellow right armer Tinashe Panyangara, who failed to recover from a back problem.

Uncapped 30-year-old Michael Chinouya has been drafted in a replacement, meaning the pace attack boasts the sum total of two tests, one apiece for Njabulo Ncube and Donald Tiripano. Taurai Muzarabani is also in contention to make his test debut.

Zimbabwe also have concerns with their batting after Tim Southee forced opener Tino Mawoyo to retire hurt with a hand injury. If he is ruled out Vusi Sibanda, may be recalled.