Black Caps v Australia: Tom Latham’s chance at captaincy immortality in transtasman test series

Only Stephen Fleming (28) and Kane Williamson (22) have captained the Black Caps to more test victories than Latham’s 13. Excluding Mitchell Santner’s two from two tests against Zimbabwe last year, no Kiwi captain boasts a better win percentage than Latham’s 59.09.

But, somewhat predictably for this generation of Black Caps, personal accolades take a back seat for Latham. Instead, the chance to lead New Zealand to a second World Test Championship final will be the sole focus of travelling to Australia, coming after India’s all-format tour to kickstart the Kiwi summer.

“From my point of view, it’s not necessarily about me,” he told the Herald. “I’m the one that’s calling the shots on the field, but to me, it’s always been about a team effort in terms of how we operate, and how we want to play our style.

“It’s a really important series in the context of the World Test Championship. For us, that’s always the biggest drawcard – how we can keep playing our brand of cricket to give us the opportunity to be in a position to hopefully be in a final again.

“The guys have played some really good cricket over a period of time now, and different series away from home. By doing that as best you can, these statistics come up.

“If we’re able to do that in Australia, hopefully we’ll give ourselves a good chance.”

However, while 2024’s win over India meant this Black Caps side achieved the hardest series win of the three first, Australia remains New Zealand’s final frontier.

Since 2011, the Black Caps have won just one of 12 tests played against Australia, with 10 defeats to go with it. Seven years ago, arguably the best generation of New Zealand cricketers headed across the Tasman with hope of ending a 33-year wait for success in Australia, and were humbled 3-0.

This time around, though, things are largely different – as far as the Black Caps are concerned at least. Of the squad that toured in 2019, only six are still playing and likely to return. On the other side, eight players will likely return for Australia, with concerns over an ageing playing group.

And considering such a drastic change in New Zealand’s playing stocks – with Williamson, Ross Taylor, BJ Watling, Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Neil Wagner among those not making the trip this time around – there are few scars for this Black Caps group.

“It’s a completely different squad,” Latham continued. “If you look at the bowling group, Matt Henry was the only one there in 2019. From a batting point of view, things look different as well.

“We do have a really good opportunity to go over there, play our style as best we can. That’s something we’ll be looking to do heading into that series.

“That’s not saying results are guaranteed, but we know if we play our style, we’ll give ourselves a really good chance.”

On a personal level, Latham will likely reach a special mark of his own in Australia. Providing he plays every test between now and then, the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne will be Latham’s 100th, and become the seventh to reach that mark for New Zealand.

In the rush to anoint Williamson as New Zealand’s best batter of all time, the achievements of players like Latham have for the most part been overlooked.

However, 95 tests mostly opening the batting for nearly 6500 runs to go with 17 centuries – only Williamson and Taylor have more for the Black Caps – speak to a player that should be remembered as one of the best to wear the silver fern.

“It’ll be a really special chance when it does come,” he said of the milestone. “You look at the players who’ve done it; I’ve been fortunate enough to play with a lot of them.

“To have your name against the likes of them is a bit surreal. There’s a bit of water to go under the bridge to get to that point.

“The longer you play the game, these stats tend to pop up. I’ve been really fortunate to play in a team that’s been reasonably successful over a 10-12 year period.

“I’m fortunate to be in that position.”

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