Tom Latham Out of First Test Against Zimbabwe, Mitchell Santner Named Captain

New Zealand captain Tom Latham has been ruled out of the first Test match against Zimbabwe due to a shoulder injury. In his place, Mitchell Santner will lead the team. This will make Santner the 32nd player to captain New Zealand in Test cricket.

Latham got injured earlier this month while fielding in a T20 match for Birmingham and hasn’t recovered enough to play the match in Bulawayo, which starts on Wednesday. However, he will stay with the team and hopes to be fit for the second Test starting August 7.

Santner is an experienced player with 30 Test matches under his belt. He recently captained New Zealand to victory in a T20I Tri-Series in Harare, where the team won all five matches.

Coach Rob Walter’s Comments

Head coach Rob Walter said that Latham’s absence is a big loss.

“It’s very disappointing to miss Tom. He’s not only the captain but also one of our best batters and a great teammate,” said Walter. “We’re working hard to get him fit for the second Test.”

He added that Santner is a good choice for captain.

“Mitch led the T20 team really well. He’s smart and understands the game. Even though Test cricket is different, the players respect him, and he’ll be supported by experienced teammates.”

About the Series

• The two-Test series is not part of the World Test Championship (WTC).
• This is New Zealand’s first Test tour of Zimbabwe since 2016.
• New Zealand will begin their WTC campaign in December with a three-match home series against the West Indies.