To rediscover his wicket-taking form new Test captain has backed Tim Southee
New Zealand's new Test captain, Tom Latham, is focused on a fearless approach as his team prepares for a three-match series against India. Latham, who took over after Tim Southee stepped down, aims to revive New Zealand’s chances following a series of losses in the World Test Championship that have diminished their hopes of reaching the final. With upcoming matches in Bengaluru, Pune, and Mumbai, Latham is keen on building a positive and aggressive playing style, especially given New Zealand's challenging history in India, where they have only won twice out of 36 Tests.
Latham believes in playing with a sense of freedom, emphasizing an aggressive batting approach to put pressure on India rather than waiting for opportunities to arise. He pointed out that teams who have succeeded in India tend to be proactive, particularly with the bat. Reflecting on their recent Sri Lanka series, where they lost both matches, Latham noted that there were positives to build on. He stressed that the team needs to stick to their game plan and fine-tune their strategies to improve. Having previously led as a stand-in captain, Latham now has the chance to leave a lasting impact in his new, permanent role.
Latham highlighted Southee’s impressive past performance, noting his seven-wicket haul in Bengaluru during a previous tour. He praised Southee as a valuable asset to the team due to his consistent wicket-taking ability and long-standing success, which has placed him high on New Zealand’s all-time wicket-takers list.
Latham emphasized that Southee will continue to play a crucial role, sharing his insights and expertise. Despite stepping down as captain, Southee’s knowledge of various playing conditions will be invaluable to the team. Latham is looking forward to leveraging Southee’s ideas and experience to enhance their strategy as they take on India.