Keepers keeping options open

They’re part-time wicketkeepers with big-time responsibilities.

New Zealand’s Tom Latham and Australia’s Peter Handscomb will be expected to contribute with the keeping gloves and the bat in today’s Chappell-Hadlee Trophy finale in Hamilton.

It’d be taking it a step too far to call either a reluctant keeper but both admit it’s a part-time role.

Latham has taken over the keeping duties with Luke Ronchi (now back in action for Wellington) injured and got the nod to start in this series over rookie glovesman Tom Blundell, allowing the Black Caps to bolster their batting lineup.

‘‘With the make-up of the side throughout the series, we’re able to play an extra batter in that middle order and I really enjoyed it to be honest,’’ Latham said after making a good job of the keeping in New Zealand’s dramatic win at Eden Park.

‘‘I think the boys bowled really well and I managed to get a couple of dismissals. It was quite nice to be behind the stumps to someone like Lockie [Ferguson] bowling at 150ks and [Mitchell] Santner bowling the way he did.’’

However, he’s not automatically expecting it to become his regular job in the NZ one-day side.

‘‘I think it’s probably a series by series case,’’ he said.

‘‘With Ronchs being out it means we can play an extra batter in the middle. No doubt me and Hess [coach Mike Hesson] will sit down and discuss it but, at the moment, it’s just three games.’’

Handscomb was given the gloves at Eden Park after first-choice Matthew Wade was a late injury withdrawal.

I caught maybe 20 balls that morning when Wadey pulled out with about 20 minutes to go til the toss,’’ Handscomb said. ‘‘I was quite rusty behind the stumps.

‘‘It’s always an honour to put the gloves on for Australia but first and foremost I’ve always been a batsman – I was throughout junior cricket when I was keeping as well. Obviously, being the back-up keeper I’m very happy to do it if need be.

‘‘It’s definitely a little bit of extra pressure but if that’s what the team needs I’m happy to get out there and give it a crack and hopefully go well.’’

New Zealand will be without star limited-overs opener Martin Guptill for the final match of the series they lead 1-0 – but still need a win to wrest the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy off the holders. He’ll be replaced in the side by Dean Brownlie, who is most likely to open with Latham.

New Zealand have bought inform leg-spinner Ish Sodhi into the squad and it’s likely he’ll start after some starring roles in the Big Bash Twenty20 competition in Australia with the Adelaide Strikers.