Ex-New Zealand cricketer Craig Cumming has lauded Tom Latham for his wonderful captaincy, which paved the way in which for the Blackcaps to attain a historic 3-0 Test series win over India.
It was Latham’s first sequence as New Zealand’s full-time Take a look at captain, and he guided New Zealand to an unbelievable sequence sweep in India.
“He captained the staff brilliantly,” Cumming informed SENZ Afternoons.
“He stored issues easy. He didn’t attempt to chop and alter on a regular basis with the spinners, and he confirmed nice belief in Mitchell Santner’s left-arm spin within the second Take a look at, after which Ajaz Patel within the third Take a look at.
“However he didn’t attempt to introduce bowlers on a regular basis. In Sri Lanka, I feel they almost had too many choices, and Tim Southee tried to seek out methods to all the time get folks within the sport.
“That’s not a criticism of Tim. However what I feel Tom Latham did, particularly with the ball and as a captain, was let bowlers simply bowl. He allow them to keep, and he didn’t attempt to introduce or change issues only for the sake of change.
The victorious New Zealand cricket staff on the Wankhede Stadium. (Specific Photograph by Amit Chakravarty)
“You would possibly get hit for one over—that’s wonderful. We’ll keep on. And I feel the simplicity of that method allowed them to be extra profitable. They all the time knew that they have been the best choice for these batters, and that gave them confidence to succeed.
“I feel once they look again, that simplicity can be a trademark of this sequence. From the primary Take a look at, you could possibly see that was extra the Tom Latham model.”
Cumming highlighted Latham’s belief in Glenn Phillips through the third Take a look at at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai for example of this method.
“He stored issues easy. He didn’t attempt to chop and alter on a regular basis with the spinners, displaying belief in Santner within the second Take a look at after which Ajaz within the third.
“He didn’t attempt to continuously usher in new bowlers. In Sri Lanka, they almost had too many choices, and Tim Southee tried to contain everybody.
New Zealand’s captain Tom Latham celebrates his half century on the second day of the second check cricket match between India and New Zealand, on the Maharashtra Cricket Affiliation Stadium, in Pune, Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (PTI Photograph)
“That’s not a criticism of Tim, however Tom Latham, particularly as a captain, let the bowlers settle into their rhythm. He didn’t make adjustments only for the sake of it.”
Cumming additionally famous that Latham’s affect was obvious within the batting division.
“They tried to be extra ingenious,” Cumming mentioned.
“They tried to be extra proactive. You can actually see that method as a result of, as we noticed within the final Take a look at, you’re going to face difficult deliveries, however you need to rating as many runs as you’ll be able to.
“They only fought. Each ball was a battle in itself.”
