New Zealand have suffered a double blow ahead of their first Test against Zimbabwe, losing two players to injury.
Tom Latham has not yet fully recovered from a shoulder injury and will miss the opening Test. As a result, white-ball captain Mitchell Santner will lead the Test side for the first time in his career.
Latham picked up the injury earlier this month while fielding for Birmingham Bears in England’s T20 competition, the Vitality Blast. On Tuesday, New Zealand Cricket confirmed in a statement that the 33-year-old batsman will still travel with the team. Head coach Rob Walter hopes to have him fit for the second Test starting August 7.
Before Latham, Glenn Phillips had also been ruled out of the first Test due to injury. In his place, fellow spin-bowling all-rounder Michael Bracewell was recalled to the squad. Bracewell had originally been granted leave to play in The Hundred in England.
Santner, who is awaiting his Test captaincy debut, has played 30 Tests so far. He is set to become New Zealand’s 32nd Test captain. Under his leadership, the team recently won the tri-nation T20 series in Harare, finishing as unbeaten champions.
The first Test kicks off Thursday in Bulawayo, with the second to be played at the same venue.
This will be the first Test series between New Zealand and Zimbabwe since 2016. The last time they met, also in Bulawayo, the Kiwis won the two-match series 2-0.
