Who will captain New Zealand ICC World Cup 2023? A Look at the two most likely options | Tom Latham | Tim Southee | Player Profile
Who will captain New Zealand ICC World Cup 2023? As per latest news, Tom Latham and Tim Southee are most likely to replace Kane Williamson as the captain of New Zealand Cricket Team at the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. Let us take a closer look at the careers of New Zealand’s probable world cup Captains’ careers.
let’s first talk about Tim Southee, the right-arm swing bowler who burst onto the international scene in spectacular fashion. Southee was only 19 years old when he made his Test debut against England in Napier, and he had only one T20I cap behind him.
However, he had just won the Player-of-the-Tournament award at the 2008 Under-19 World Cup, and he was ready to make his mark on the big stage. Southee’s debut was nothing short of sensational. He took 5 for 55 in the first innings and then smashed 77 off 40 balls in the second innings, with nine sixes. It was a performance that gave a clear indication of the career to come.
Over the next decade or so, Southee would go on to become one of the world’s best new-ball bowlers, forming a deadly partnership with Trent Boult. He would also become known for his ability to hit sixes, and he hit his 50th six in only his 36th Test.
Southee’s main weapons are pace and outswing, and he has shown that he can be devastating across a wide range of conditions. His bag of 18 wickets at 17.33 in the 2011 World Cup prompted Allan Donald to say that he had the potential to become the best swing bowler in the world. Although injuries have kept him from fulfilling that prophecy, he has shown time and again that he can be a match-winner for his team.
In 2012, Southee showed his adaptability in the subcontinent, picking up 7 for 64 in Bangalore, the best figures for a New Zealand bowler in India. He then bowled his side to a rare win in Sri Lanka with match figures of 8 for 120 at the P Sara Oval. Two years later, his 11 wickets in the West Indies, at 21.09, helped New Zealand achieve their first series win away from home, against anyone other than Bangladesh or Zimbabwe, in 12 years.
In ODIs, Southee’s landmark performance came at the 2015 World Cup, when he sliced through England’s batting with a sensational spell of swing bowling to finish with figures of 7 for 33, the best bowling figures for a New Zealander in ODIs. Such was his standing in New Zealand cricket that he was elevated as a stand-in captain in a T20I in 2017 and then an ODI in 2018.
Despite standing in as captain and remaining a key Test and T20 bowler, Southee fell out of favour in the ODI side due to the form of Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson. He only played one match in the 2019 World Cup, but he remains a vital cog in the New Zealand team. With his ability to swing the ball both ways and his knack of picking up wickets at crucial moments, Southee will be a key player for the Kiwis in the upcoming tournaments.
Now, let’s take a look at Tom Latham, the son of former all-rounder Rod Latham, who has played a variety of roles for the New Zealand cricket team since his international debut at the age of 19. Latham has batted in every position from No. 1 to 9 in limited-overs cricket and has also taken on the responsibility of being a wicketkeeper. However, in Tests, Latham has primarily been used as an opening batsman, and he quickly settled into a position that New Zealand had trouble filling for years.
Latham was part of New Zealand’s Under-19 World Cup squad in 2010, and later that year, he played first-class cricket for Canterbury. In 2012, he made his debut in ODIs and T20Is but did not cement his spot in the team. Following an impressive domestic season, Latham played his first Test against India in Wellington in February 2014 and was picked as an opener for the tour of West Indies a few months later.
In the Caribbean, Latham reeled off three successive half-centuries, contributing to an overseas series win. Against Pakistan in the UAE that November, Latham scored centuries in successive Tests, becoming the first New Zealand batsman to do so in 24 years. He has been a fixture at the top of New Zealand’s order in Test cricket ever since.
In December 2018, he carried his bat in a Test innings against Sri Lanka in Wellington, making 264 not out to set a new Test match record for the highest score by any opener while carrying his bat, surpassing Alastair Cook’s 244 not out in 2017 against Australia. He was also only the second New Zealand opener to carry his bat in a Test, with Glenn Turner having previously done it twice.
In ODI cricket, Latham was included in New Zealand’s 2015 World Cup squad but did not get a game as Brendon McCullum’s team finished runners-up. However, he cashed in during the tour to Africa later that year, making his maiden ODI hundred in Zimbabwe and scoring three successive half-centuries in South Africa, all while opening the batting. This was a significant achievement for Latham, who had only scored one 50-plus score in his first 26 ODI innings.
After a lean run in 2017 at the top of the order, Latham was shifted to No.5 and given the gloves following the retirement of Luke Ronchi. He made 103 not out in his first innings at No.5 in a winning chase against India in Mumbai and remained in that spot all the way through to the 2019 World Cup.
Who will captain New Zealand ICC World Cup 2023?
Latham has proven to be a versatile player for the New Zealand team, and his ability to adapt to different roles has made him a valuable asset. With his solid technique and ability to play long innings, Latham will be a key player for the Kiwis in the upcoming tournaments.
Let’s see who Captains Newzealand at the World Cup. Our Prediction is that Tom Latham will Captain the Kiwis.
