“Yeah, I certainly wasn’t expecting the weather we’ve had the last few days since we got here,” Latham said on the eve of the sport. “And looking at the forecast, it obviously looks a little bit like what we have today.
“So clearly the wicket will be under the covers for an extended period, and it won’t necessarily be as scorching as we might normally expect here. So that will probably bring the fast bowlers into play.”
“It’s crunchy to say because I haven’t really taken a look at the wicket in relation to the team we’re playing. But, yes, clearly we will protect both bases. [spin and pace] Hoping once we see the tone the next day.”
Spin has been New Zealand’s kryptonite in the current World Test Test [WTC] cycle. They come into the series off the back of a 2-0 loss against Sri Lanka, where they lost 37 of their 40 wickets to the spinners.
Latham admitted the results in Sri Lanka were not ideal, but said New Zealand managed to do “an accumulation of excellent things on that outing”. He pointed to the first Test in Galle, where New Zealand posted scores of 340 and 211. They were then blown away for 88 in the first innings of the second Test, but came back with 360 in the second Test. However, that did not prevent a defeat in both tests.
“Yes, clearly the results were not splendid in Sri Lanka. I think the first Test was a pretty small margin compared to the defeat. But we actually did a lot of good things on that outing,” Latham said. “It’s clearly easy to see the result. But I think from a batting point of view, you’re taking away the first innings of the second Test and you know we did an accumulation of good things there.
“We changed our approach a little bit in terms of how we played and the way things developed. And I thought we played very well. And, yeah, I guess when you come here to India, the conditions are slightly different.
“So hopefully it will do a little bit more business here in the Republic of India for the seamers. And the closer, you know, probably after a couple of closer test suits, the spin can play games a little more element.”
This is Latham’s first assignment as a full-time Test captain (he previously led New Zealand in nine Tests) after Tim Southee resigned following the Sri Lanka series. His own form in the 2023-25 WTC cycle has been patchy with 368 runs in 16 innings at 11pm.
“It is clearly a huge and exciting privilege for me to be in this place,” Latham said. “Regardless of whether or not I’m a captain, I always try to perform my role in the easiest way possible for the crew. And that never means committing to being another captain.”
“Yes, there is a bit more responsibility, but I think I’m lucky to have been in this position before, to have been captain here in India before and to have done it at home as well. So I think, like most of the guys, I’m excited to get into it. “It’s been a bit of preparation for me since obviously I took over.”
“We have different guys that play in completely different ways. And for us, it’s about letting guys go out and express themselves as much as they can and try to fulfill their plans as best they can.”
Latham wants his players to continue with their natural sport
Aggression and intent were the flavor of the city in Check out cricket, New Zealand have adopted a more old-school style. Of their eight tests in the WTC cycle, they have passed with an average of 3.37 runs over. Date Latham agrees that teams at international level have taken a more competitive direction in Test cricket and wants his players to do what engages them naturally.
“Yeah, if you look around the world recently over probably the last 12 months, I think a lot of teams have taken the approach of being a little bit more aggressive and putting a little more pressure on the players,” he said. “But I think if you look at our team as a whole, everyone has a slightly different game plan.
“They’ve given us other guys who play in completely alternative ways. And for us, it’s about letting guys travel and express themselves as much as they can and strive to follow through with their plans as easily as they can.”
New Zealand have never achieved a series victory in India, and Latham admits his team will have to play “very well” to change that record. However, he is banking on New Zealand’s recent visits to India and expeditions to the subcontinent in a bid to force a win in the three-Test series.
“They know how to play in their own situations,” Latham said. “And I think when you look at the Republic of India as a whole, you clearly look at the spinners when you think about those situations. But they have been given an equally excellent seam attack relative to [Jasprit] bumrah, [Mohammed] Siraj, clearly [Akash] Deep, who has performed the best Test suits against Bangladesh.
“So they are a complete team from a bowling point of view. They have a lot of match winners who can take a game away from you quite quickly.
“We’re clearly committed to playing the games in a really orderly manner. We’re looking at the problem. And hopefully we can again rely on the studies we’ve had here on the best ones from times we’ve been on tour.”
Ashish Pant is Deputy Editor of ESPNcricinfo
