With New Zealand gearing up for a challenging three-match Test series against India, newly appointed full-time Test captain Tom Latham has called for a bold and fearless approach. Latham, taking over the reins from Kane Williamson, emphasized the need to play with freedom and aggression, aiming to turn around New Zealand‘s historically poor Test record in India.
New Zealand has won just two of the 36 Test matches they’ve played in India, with victories dating back to 1969 and 1988. The Black Caps also recently endured a 2-0 series defeat in Sri Lanka, making the upcoming series a significant test for Latham’s leadership.
Latham Calls for Aggression and Freedom
Speaking ahead of the series, Latham stressed the importance of maintaining a positive mindset and putting pressure on the Indian team. He believes that an aggressive approach with the bat will give New Zealand the best chance of success.
“It’s about trying to continue the good things we’ve been doing and put my spin on it. Going to India is always an exciting challenge, and hopefully, we can play with a bit of freedom and without fear. If we do that, it should give us a good chance,” Latham said, as reported by ESPNcricinfo.
The southpaw also pointed out that teams that have succeeded in India were those that didn’t just wait for the opposition to make mistakes but instead proactively attacked. “In India, we’ve seen teams do well by being aggressive, particularly with the bat. You’ve got to look to play your shots and put them under pressure rather than sit back and wait,” Latham added.
Backing Tim Southee Amid Lean Period
While Latham plans to lead his side with an aggressive mindset, he also faces tough decisions regarding team selection, particularly regarding veteran bowler Tim Southee. The former captain has been struggling for form in Test cricket but remains a crucial figure in the team.
Latham, however, backed Southee to rediscover his best form, especially given his past success in Indian conditions. “If you look back at our last tour to India, Southee took seven wickets in Bangalore. With his experience, there’s no reason why he can’t replicate that form. He’s been a fantastic bowler for us for many years, and there’s a reason why he’s so high on the wicket list for New Zealand.”
New Zealand will begin their three-match Test series against India on October 16 at Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium, with the next two matches scheduled at Pune and Mumbai.
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