New Zealand's experienced players need to take on more responsibility to cover for Kane Williamson's absence during part of the home summer, according to batsman Tom Latham. Latham addressed the media on Wednesday as New Zealand Cricket unveiled its summer schedule, beginning with a three-Test series against England in November, followed by white-ball series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Williamson relinquished the white-ball captaincy after New Zealand's early exit from the T20 World Cup group stage and intends to play T20 franchise cricket in South Africa in January instead of representing the Black Caps. Latham, Williamson's deputy for a long time, expressed a heightened sense of duty to lead.
"We've often been without our senior players due to commitments in the IPL or rest periods," said the 32-year-old. "As a senior player, this presents an opportunity for me to step up and lead, as well as for others who haven't had many chances in the past to take on leadership roles." Latham acknowledged the loss of a player of Williamson's caliber but saw it as a chance for others to prove themselves. Despite frequently acting as captain, Latham did not become the full-time Test captain when Williamson stepped down; the role went to fast bowler Tim Southee. New Zealand has not yet named a replacement for Williamson in the white-ball formats, but Latham's limited T20 experience might work against him if selectors choose a single captain for both short-format teams.
Latham was not part of New Zealand's T20 World Cup squad, and his last T20I appearance was over a year ago. The three-match Test series against England, starting in Christchurch on November 28, will be New Zealand's only Test cricket this home summer, reflecting concerns that the longest format is being overshadowed by the proliferation of global T20 leagues. Latham, who has played 80 Tests, joked about the lack of Test franchise cricket and emphasized the need for players to adapt to the evolving landscape.
