Should Tom Latham replace Ken Williamson as New Zealand’s permanent test captain? | cricket news sky news
Tom Latham scored 26 to top the standings as New Zealand finished the first day of Test Two 318-4
Ken Williamson made headlines on the eve of the second England-New Zealand test at Trent Bridge as the Black Cabs captain was disqualified with Covid.
Tom Latham took over as captain in Williamson’s absence, and New Zealand were impressive on the opening day of the Test as they put England’s dirty side to the sword.
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Highlights from the first day of the second Test between England and New Zealand at Trent Bridge.
Ahead of the match, former New Zealand bowler Simon Doll wondered if the move could become permanent after the series, as Williamson has struggled for form with the bats recently.
Asked about Latham’s credentials, Dole said sky sport“He’s a great captain. I think he understands and reads the match well, and is comfortable in his own game at the top of the standings.
“If Ken Williamson was fit for the final Test match and captained for New Zealand, would it be the last time in Test cricket?
“I think it is almost time for Latham to take control of this test team.”
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New Zealand captain Ken Williamson has given his reaction after his team lost by five wickets to England in their first Test at Lords.
Williamson currently ranks fifth in the ICC Test rankings, while also one of the so-called “Big Four” – along with Virat Kohli, Joe Root and Steve Smith – who are considered the best in the world.
Williamson has an average of 52.81 in Test cricket, and that rises to 58.07 in his 39 Tests as captain since 2016, but the 31-year-old is currently struggling with a barren run with the bats, entering this series after a nightmare stint in the IPL in which he averaged 19.63 He scored only fifty in 13 matches.
“I just want Kane to be the best hitter New Zealand has ever had,” Dole added.
“He will be, but he’s a quality player and it pains me to see what he’s going through right now in terms of form, out of the IPL and in this first Test. He’s a good player and a good guy.
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Matthew Potts took a small gate with his fifth ball in Test cricket as New Zealand captain Ken Williamson was sent off for two on the first day of the first Test at Lords
“The captain in the white ball shape I still see going forward, but I see Latham as a future test captain – which will take some pressure off Williamson.”
While Williamson scored a total of 17 points in New Zealand’s first Test loss to England at Lords, the Root – in his first Test since stepping down as Test captain in April – netted an impressive 115 points unbeaten to see the hosts score an unforgettable win with five wickets.
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Joe Root gives his reaction after leading England to victory at Lords, after a century that saw him cross 10,000 Test runs in his career. He also looks back on a few tough years as a leader.
talk to sky sport After the match, Root revealed that the captain was starting to have an “unhealthy effect” on him, and Dole didn’t want the same thing to happen to Williamson.
“I don’t want him to go down Joe Root,” Dole said. “You see what the root means, those hundred, and you see what it means to the team for him to score those points.
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Check out Joe Root’s greatest tunes of the century that not only helped England beat New Zealand in Lord’s first Test, but also saw Root surpass 10,000 Tests in his career.
“New Zealand need more runs for Williamson than they need his leader at the moment, and they have a great alternative at Latham.
“I think this could be the future of Test cricket for New Zealand.”
Watch Day Two of LV II = Test of Lockdown between England and New Zealand, at Trent Bridge, live on Sky Sports Cricket from 10.15am on Saturday.
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