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Sport Nation
'Huge honour': Mitchell Santner confirmed as Blackcaps' full-time white-ball captain
Sport Nation • December 18th, 2024 12:00 pm
Photo: Photosport
Mitchell Santner has been confirmed as the new full-time white-ball captain for the Blackcaps.
The veteran of 243 internationals will take on the permanent leadership role, replacing Kane Williamson, who stepped aside after the T20 World Cup in June.
The 32-year-old allrounder - who has previously led New Zealand on 29 occasions, including during the recent tour to Sri Lanka - will officially begin his full-time captaincy tenure in the upcoming T20I and ODI series against Sri Lanka in late December and early January.
Santner's first assignment will be against Sri Lanka in their upcoming T20 and ODI series, which starts in late December.
Santner said he was humbled to be asked to take up the responsibility to lead his nation on the pitch.
"It's obviously a huge honour and a privilege to be asked," said Santner.
"It's obviously a huge honour and a privilege to be asked," said Santner.
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"When you're a young kid the dream was always to play for New Zealand but to have the opportunity to officially lead my country in two formats is special.
"It's a new challenge and I'm excited to get stuck into the important period of white ball cricket that we have ahead of us."
"It's a new challenge and I'm excited to get stuck into the important period of white ball cricket that we have ahead of us."
The two series begins a heavy period of white ball cricket for the side, including an ODI Tri Series in Pakistan in February, followed by the ICC Champions Trophy and a home T20 and ODI series against Pakistan to conclude the New Zealand home summer.
Santner is widely regarded as one of the top bowlers in the world in white-ball cricket, having also recently starred with the red ball in India - where he claimed the third-best Test bowling figures in NZ history in the series-clinching second-Test win - and playing a key hand in the third-Test victory over England in Hamilton.
He's also one of just four players to have represented New Zealand over 100 times in both ODI and T20 cricket.
The Hamilton product said it was an exciting time to lead both white ball sides.
"There's obviously a little bit of a changing of the guard with some of our experienced players at the back end of their careers.
"There's obviously a little bit of a changing of the guard with some of our experienced players at the back end of their careers.
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"I think that's exciting for the remainder of the group and the young players to now take on the challenge and drive this team forward to further success."
Coach Gary Stead said Santner was the natural choice for the position, allowing Tom Latham to focus on his new role as Test captain.
"Mitch is a fantastic team man and leads by example in all facets of the game," said Stead.
"He's an incredibly calm and collected personality and he has a huge amount of respect in the changing room, which will stand him in good stead," said Stead.
"He's had plenty of experience leading the T20 side and did a good job when he captained the ODI team last month, so he already has a good understanding of what it means to lead the team.
"He's an incredibly calm and collected personality and he has a huge amount of respect in the changing room, which will stand him in good stead," said Stead.
"He's had plenty of experience leading the T20 side and did a good job when he captained the ODI team last month, so he already has a good understanding of what it means to lead the team.
"Tom's doing a great job as full-time Test captain since taking over in October and we're keen to allow him to focus on that job which requires a considerable amount of time and energy."
The T20 and ODI squads to face Sri Lanka will be named on Monday. The first T20 takes place December 28 in Tauranga.
Sport Nation will have live ball-by-ball commentary of the Blackcaps' ODI and T20 series against Sri Lanka - available on all NZ frequencies and the new Sport Nation app - available on App Store and Google Play.
