Racing
League
Rugby
Cricket
Golf
Motorsport
Combat Sports
Football
Netball
Basketball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
Santner steps up as Blackcaps red-ball captain as Latham ruled out of Zimbabwe Test
Sport Nation • July 30th, 2025 8:39 am
Tom Latham, Mitch Santner | Photo: AAP
The Blackcaps will be without red-ball captain Tom Latham when they square off for the first test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, starting Wednesday (NZ time).
Latham suffered a shoulder injury while playing for Birmingham in the English T20 league earlier this month and has failed to be cleared for the opening match of the two-Test series.
In his absence, white-ball captain Mitchell Santner - fresh off leading the Blackcaps to a T20 tri-series victory - will step in as skipper, becoming New Zealand's 32nd Test captain.
Latham will remain with the squad in the hope he'll be ready to return for the second Test, which starts August 7.
Kyle Mills on the Rob Walter appointment as Blackcaps head coach | Millsy & Guy
"It’s hugely disappointing for Tom to be missing the first Test, as captain but also as an integral part of the team,” said head coach Rob Walter.
“It’s never great when you lose your captain, 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.
"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.”
Walter said the team was in good hands with Santner.
“Mitch did a wonderful job with the T20 squad in this recent series.
“He was excellent from a strategy point of view, and he has a strong understanding of the game.
"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.”
