Source– Twitter/ X
Tom Latham was named as the New Zealand Test captain after Tim Southee decided to step down following the 2-0 series loss against Sri Lanka ahead of their India tour.
The left-handed wicketkeeper batter has been a regular feature in the New Zealand Test side for a decade now. He made his debut against India in Wellington in 2014 and has featured in the most Tests that the Kiwis have played since then.
In his 83 Tests career, he has always shown promise and was also one of the best openers in world cricket for some time. However, when it came to the big games against big sides, he has consistently disappointed.
Against Australia, in the Trans-Tasman Tests, he has only managed 549 runs at an average of 27.45 in 20 innings of 10 Tests. When it came to India, in the same sample size, he has averaged 29.57 and scored 562 runs. Just recently, in the Bengaluru Test, where he was expected to step up against spin, given his prowess against the turning ball, he got plumb to Kuldeep Yadav for 15(49).
Even against England and South Africa, in 13 and 9 Tests respectively, he has only managed to average 31.69 and 13.64 when he is one of the supposed leader of the dressing room and should be leading by example.
Tom Latham vs India, Australia, England and South Africa
| Opponent | Matches | Innings | Runs | Average | Highest | 50/100 |
| Australia | 10 | 20 | 549 | 27.45 | 73 | 4/0 |
| India | 10 | 20 | 562 | 29.57 | 95 | 7/0 |
| England | 13 | 24 | 729 | 31.69 | 105 | 5/1 |
| South Africa | 9 | 14 | 191 | 13.64 | 50 | 1/0 |
| Aggregate | 42 | 78 | 2031 | 26.72 | 105 | 17/1 |
On the other hand, when it comes to the smaller opponents, he has always shown his class and the potential that he has never been able to convert against the bigger sides.
He has scored 12/29 fifties and 12/13 centuries of his career against the opponents like Bangladesh (3×100 and 1×50), averaging 65.41, Pakistan (3×100 and 5×50), averaging 40.09, Sri Lanka (4×100 and 2×50), averaging 59.94, West Indies (4×50), averaging 43.81 and Zimbabwe (2×100), averaging 84.66 who all are, with all due respect, weaker opponents.
Tom Latham v Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, West Indies and Zimbabwe
Given that the Kiwis find themselves in a position where they don’t have an option to immediately take over the reigns in the leadership department. It is about time that the “soothing to the eyes” Latham steps up and justifies his 80+ Test career and he wouldn’t get any better opportunity than defeating India in India in a series first time ever, as they currently lead the series 1-0 with two Tests to go and both most probably to be spinning decks, where he supposedly thrives.
