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New Zealand skipper Tom Latham has been ruled out of the second Test against Zimbabwe due to shoulder injury. He was also out of the first Test and hasn't been able to recover on time. Where it comes to his overall Test carer, then Tom Latham has been a cricketer hardened by challenges and by the audacious demands that Tests have, in particular of batters who are committed to excel. Something that can be made from his personal best individual Test score of 264; even Williamson, for all his greatness, hasn't managed that lanky hundred as on date.
With an experience of 88 Test matches to his name and an overall Test match run tally that is nearing 6000, truth be told, Latham is a top draw for the New Zealand side and perhaps one of the best timers of the cricket ball. Usefully, he's also captained New Zealand back in the day, and having played the game for now over 13 years, he is an asset to a side keenly looking for heroes in this post-Trent Boult and post-Southee era.
We're really feeling for Tom: New Zealand Head Coach
Thus far, the New Zealand side played with new zeal and beat Zimbabwe by 9 wickets in the first or the opening Test at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. Since then, they've been juggling with a few changes into their squad. The big news around July last week was Matt Fisher who stood on the cusp of his international test debut for the side against Zimbabwe.
The fact is that Zimbabweans are clearly in pressure and the only thing that can, for arguments sake, strengthen their sense of confidence is the return of Brendan Taylor. Together, the trinity of Taylor, Ervine and Williams should come handy for the Zimbabweans.
On the other hand, right now, the team in the Test whites on New Zealand side of things is being captained by Mitchell Santner and that will go unchanged in what lies ahead.
It's hugely disappointing to lose Tom again. He's been working hard and had been tracking well towards the second test, but unfortunately, today he couldn't pass his fitness tests. He's extremely gutted he won't be able to take the park, and we're really feeling for him," New Zealand head coach Rob Walter was quoted as saying by NDTV Sports.
