BULAWAYO TEST
Santner also led NZ in the first Test © BCCI
New Zealand will be without regular Test captain Tom Latham for the second Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, after the left-handed opener failed to recover from a shoulder injury.
Latham, who was also ruled out of the first Test, had been undergoing rehabilitation but was unable to clear a fitness test on the eve of the second match. Head coach Rob Walter confirmed the setback, calling it “hugely disappointing”.
“He’s been working hard and had been tracking well towards the second Test, but unfortunately today he couldn’t pass his fitness tests,” Walter said. “He’s extremely gutted he won’t be able to take the park and we’re really feeling for him.”
Mitchell Santner, who led New Zealand in the first Test and became the team’s 32nd Test captain, will continue in the role for the second match.
Bevon Jacobs, the Auckland Aces batter, has been drafted into the squad as fielding and batting cover. The 23-year-old had been playing club cricket in Johannesburg and was able to travel to Bulawayo at short notice.
“With Tom being ruled out on the eve of the match we needed to quickly bring in an extra pair of hands,” Walter said. “Thankfully Bevon had been playing in Johannesburg and was able to make the short trip.”
© Cricbuzz
