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ZIM vs NZ: Mitchell Santner replaces injured Tom Latham as skipper for 1st Test

ZIM vs NZ: Mitchell Santner replaces injured Tom Latham as skipper for 1st Test

India Today2 days ago
New Zealand's Test preparations have suffered an unexpected jolt with captain Tom Latham ruled out of the opening Test against Zimbabwe due to a shoulder injury. In his absence, Mitchell Santner has been officially named as New Zealand's 32nd Test captain for the game, starting July 30 in Bulawayo.Santner, the regular white-ball skipper since December 2024, steps up to lead the Blackcaps in Test format, marking his first assignment in this role at the start of the Zimbabwe tour - a bold move by selectors with the team seeking continuity and fresh direction in the Test ranks.advertisementSantner, who has scored 1,066 runs and taken 74 wickets in 30 Tests, steps into the role following a triumphant T20I Tri-Series campaign in Harare, where the Black Caps went undefeated through the group stage and into the final.
Also Read: Taskin Ahmed accused of assault and threats, Bangladesh pacer issues clarificationNew Zealand head coach Rob Walter said that he's disappointed on Latham missing out, but showed faith in Santner to deliver.'It's never great when you lose your captain (Tom Latham), who's a world-class opening batter and a great team man, but that said we're going to work really hard to have him available for the second Test,' Walter was quoted as saying by the ICC."We'll continue to assess and see whether a replacement player is necessary, but at this stage we are hopeful that he'll recover in time.''Mitch (Santner) did a wonderful job with the T20 squad in this recent series.Whilst the format is different, he certainly has the respect of the players and will be supported by some highly experienced Test cricketers, so I trust that he's going to do a great job,' Walter added.New Zealand squad for 1st Test vs ZimbabweTom Blundell, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Fisher, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Will O'Rourke, Ajaz Patel, Michael Bracewell, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner (C), Nathan Smith, Will Young- Ends
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