Agency :
Tom Latham has been named New Zealand captain for the two-match Test series against Bangladesh, starting at Bay Oval on New Year’s Day, with regular skipper Kane Williamson ruled out due to his elbow injury.
Latham filled in for Williamson in the second Test against India, in Mumbai, but this will be the first time he will lead the side for an entire series.
“It’s great to be back home and at venues we know well, and where we’ve had success in recent times” said head coach Gary Stead. “It’s obviously disappointing not to have Kane available for this series but, as we noted in India, he is undergoing a sustained period of rest followed by rehabilitation, strengthening and gradual batting loading.
“We have every confidence in Tom leading the side – he’s done an excellent job in the past when called upon.
Having impressed on his Test debut in England, Devon Conway returns to the squad after spending a few weeks on the sidelines due to a hand injury in the T20 World Cup semi-final against England in November.
On the bowling front, pacers Trent Boult and Matt Henry return for the home series after being rested for the two-game rubber in India. However, there’s no place in the 13-man squad for the milestone man from that trip – specialist spinner Ajaz Patel, even as allrounders Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell have held on to their spin and seam all-rounder spots, respectively.
“You do feel for Ajaz after his record-breaking display in India,” Stead said. “However, we’ve always applied a horses-for-courses selection policy and believe the players selected best fit the way we want to take on Bangladesh here at home.
“We feel having both Rachin and Daryl in the squad gives us a nice balance and the ability to pick a side best suited to the conditions we expect.”
