Latham learns from tough times
Stand-in skipper changes his roles but has no intentions of reinventing the wheel in Hagley Oval showdown
Only a year ago, same venue, and how things have changed.
Tom Latham took 137 off Bangladesh on Boxing Day last year at Hagley Oval to push New Zealand towards a 77-run ODI win.
He was opening the batting that day. Colin Munro cracked a rapid 87 at No 6. Now the roles are reversed, Munro opening with another lefthander George Worker, while Latham, captain for the day today, and wearing the keeping gloves, is likely to be at No 5.
It was also around this time that Latham hit his worst slump on New Zealand duty. He made 22, 4, 7, 0, 0, 2, 0 and 15 in successive ODI innings.
“It was my first time under pressure and I guess you learn more from times like that than if things are going well,” Latham said yesterday.
“To me, it’s more about trust in your game than anything, rather than going out to try to change things. To learn from those experiences is important, and to bounce back equally important and hopefully if I get into that [slump] again I can learn from what happened last time.”
Latham is averaging 34.84 with four hundreds from his 62 ODIs and has settled into a middle order role. His century against India at Mumbai recently, part of a 200-run fourth wicket stand with Ross Taylor, helped win an ODI.
He won’t be out to be noticeably different in style and presence from regular skipper Kane Williamson, who is having the two Christchurch ODIs off. “I’m certainly not going to reinvent the wheel, that’s for sure,” he quipped.
It could be a day with a solid Canterbury presence in the Garden City too. Besides Latham, batsman Henry Nicholls, legspinning allrounder Todd Astle and seamer Matt Henry are all in the provincial side when not on national duty.
Henry and veteran batsman Neil Broom are the only players confirmed to play today, Broom a straight swap for Williamson, while Henry is in for Tim Southee, who also has the next two games off.
Henry’s ODI record is extremely impressive — 61 wickets from 32 matches at 25.2 apiece. Latham reckons he’s been a bit stiff at times when it comes to selection. “He probably hasn’t necessarily had the opportunities he’s deserved,” Latham said.
As for the West Indies, and particularly the situation around opener Chris Gayle, who would know.
Gayle sat out New Zealand’s innings in five-wicket win in Whangarei on Wednesday and a veil of secrecy has surrounded the heavyhitting veteran. It was made no clearer by captain Jason Holder yesterday.
“He’s recovering,” he said, without actually saying from what. “He’s been monitored over the last few days I’m still not able to give a strong position on where he’s at but he is better than the last game.”
What chance he will play today? ‘‘To be honest I’m not quite sure.”
So what’s actually wrong with him? “We’re not going to disclose that, but he’s in good spirits, a lot better than a couple of days ago. Chris is always a bubbly guy, full of jokes but we hope he can recover to take part in the [rest of ] the tour.”
The West Indies’ problems are deeper than just Gayle. They need to get a win to keep the series alive and give themselves a lift in spirits.
New Zealand like Hagley Oval. They have won all six ODIs there. The West Indies have also tasted success there, clobbering Pakistan by 159 runs in the 2015 World Cup.
Holder was captain that day, too. Still winless on this tour, what he wouldn’t give for a victory today.