Tom Latham (cricketer)
{{short description|New Zealand cricketer (born 1992)}}
{{For|the English cricketer and barrister|Thomas Latham (cricketer)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=May 2015}}
{{Infobox cricketer
| name = Tom Latham
| image =
| caption =
| fullname = Thomas William Maxwell Latham
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1992|4|2|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Christchurch, New Zealand
| batting = Left-handed
| bowling = Right-arm medium
| role = Wicketkeeper Batter
| family = Rod Latham (father)
| international = true
| internationalspan = 2012–present
| country = New Zealand
| testdebutdate = 14 February
| testdebutyear = 2014
| testdebutagainst = India
| lasttestdate = 14 December
| lasttestyear = 2024
| lasttestagainst = England
| testcap = 263
| odidebutdate = 3 February
| odidebutyear = 2012
| odidebutagainst = Zimbabwe
| lastodidate = 9 March
| lastodiyear = 2025
| lastodiagainst = India
| odicap = 170
| odishirt = 48 (previously 23)
| T20Idebutdate = 30 June
| T20Idebutyear = 2012
| T20Idebutagainst = West Indies
| lastT20Idate = 24 April
| lastT20Iyear = 2023
| lastT20Iagainst = Pakistan
| T20Icap = 55
| T20Ishirt = 48 (previously 23)
| club1 = Canterbury
| year1 = {{nowrap|2010/11–present}}
| club2 = Scotland
| year2 = 2013
| club3 = Kent
| year3 = 2016
| club4 = Durham
| year4 = 2017–2018
| club5 = Surrey
| year5 = 2023
| club6 = Warwickshire
| year6 = 2025
| columns = 4
| column1 = Test
| matches1 = 88
| runs1 = 5,834
| bat avg1 = 38.38
| 100s/50s1 = 13/31
| top score1 = 264*
| deliveries1 = –
| wickets1 = –
| bowl avg1 = –
| fivefor1 = –
| tenfor1 = –
| best bowling1 = –
| catches/stumpings1 = 101/0
| column2 = ODI
| matches2 = 157
| runs2 = 4,361
| bat avg2 = 34.61
| 100s/50s2 = 8/26
| top score2 = 145*
| deliveries2 = –
| wickets2 = –
| bowl avg2 = –
| fivefor2 = –
| tenfor2 = –
| best bowling2 = –
| catches/stumpings2 = 133/17
| column3 = T20I
| matches3 = 26
| runs3 = 516
| bat avg3 = 25.80
| 100s/50s3 = 0/3
| top score3 = 65*
| deliveries3 =0
| wickets3 = 0
| bowl avg3 = 0
| fivefor3 = 0
| tenfor3 = 0
| best bowling3 = 0
| catches/stumpings3 = 15/4
| column4 = FC
| matches4 = 171
| runs4 =11,745
| bat avg4 = 42.09
| 100s/50s4 = 27/63
| top score4 = 264*
| deliveries4 = –
| wickets4 = –
| bowl avg4 = –
| fivefor4 = –
| tenfor4 = –
| best bowling4 = –
| hidedeliveries = true
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport|Men's Cricket}}
{{MedalCountry |{{NZ}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|ICC Cricket World Cup}}
{{Medal|RU|2015 Australia and New Zealand|}}
{{Medal|RU|2019 England and Wales|}}
{{MedalCompetition|ICC World Test Championship}}
{{Medal|W|2019-2021|}}{{MedalCompetition|ICC Champions Trophy}}
{{Medal|RU|2025 Pakistan and United Arab Emirates|}}
| catches/stumpings4 = 224/1
| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/388802.html ESPNcricinfo
| date = 26 May 2025
}}
Thomas William Maxwell Latham (born 2 April 1992) is a New Zealand international cricketer who is the Test captain of New Zealand cricket team. He is the son of former cricketer Rod Latham. He is 8th New Zealand player to score 10000 international runs and currently their 7th highest run scorer. He has the most Test centuries for New Zealand opening batsmen. Latham was a member of the New Zealand team that won the 2019–2021 ICC World Test Championship. He was also a part of the New Zealand squads to finish as runners-up in two Cricket World Cup finals in 2015 and 2019 and the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
He is primarily a batsman who also plays as a wicket-keeper. Playing for Canterbury, he made his first-class cricket debut against Central Districts in 2010 in the Plunket Shield. He was selected for the One-Day International series against Zimbabwe in 2012[http://www.espncricinfo.com/new-zealand-v-zimbabwe-2012/content/story/551288.html Bates, Latham picked; Brendon McCullum to lead]. ESPNCricinfo.com. Retrieved on 3 January 2012 and made his ODI debut on 3 February 2012.[http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/520592.html Zimbabwe in New Zealand ODI Series – 1st ODI]. ESPNCricinfo.com. Retrieved on 3 February 2012 He made his Test match debut against India in February 2014.
Domestic cricket career
Latham made his debut for Canterbury in the 2010–11 Plunket Shield season, scoring 65 in his maiden first-class cricket innings.[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/420/420317/First-Class_Matches.html First-class matches played by Tom Latham], CricketArchive. Retrieved 2016-07-16.[http://www.espncricinfo.com/nzdomestic-2010/content/story/487905.html Neil Wagner stars in Otago win]. CricInfo, 2010-11-19. Retrieved 2016-07-16. He had played youth cricket for Canterbury, captaining the under-19 side, and played for the Canterbury A team from the 2008–09 season.[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/420/420317/all_teams.html Teams Tom Latham played for], CricketArchive. Retrieved 2016-07-16.[http://www.blackcaps.co.nz/news-items/archive/latham-one-record-down-the-next-in-his-sights Latham- one record down, the next in his sights], New Zealand Cricket, 2010-08-26. Retrieved 2016-07-16. During 2010 Latham had been a member of the Durham County Cricket Club academy in England. He played matches for Durham Second XI and a Northumberland development XI as well as playing club cricket in the North East Premier League in England for Gateshead Fell.[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/420/420317/Miscellaneous_Matches.html Miscellaneous matches played by Tom Latham], CricketArchive. Retrieved 2016-07-16.[http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/8167836.display/ Latham leading Fell into pole position], Northern Echo, 2010-05-15. Retrieved 2016-07-16.[http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/606393.html Three to tango], CricInfo, 2013-02-26. Retrieved 2016-07-16.
Latham has appeared in all formats of the game for Canterbury. He spent the 2013 English summer playing in north-east England again, playing for South Shields in the North East Premier League and Scotland in the 2013 Yorkshire Bank 40 competition, the major English List A competition in 2013, as well as making two further appearances for Durham's second XI.[http://www.thejournal.co.uk/sport/cricket/tom-latham-man-lift-south-4391964 Tom Latham is the man to lift South Shields] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812065153/http://www.thejournal.co.uk/sport/cricket/tom-latham-man-lift-south-4391964 |date=12 August 2020 }}, The Journal, 2013-06-08. Retrieved 2016-07-16.[http://www.thejournal.co.uk/sport/cricket/kiwi-ace-tom-latham-stars-4391990 Kiwi ace Tom Latham stars for South Shields] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803210143/http://www.thejournal.co.uk/sport/cricket/kiwi-ace-tom-latham-stars-4391990 |date=3 August 2020 }}, The Journal, 2013-06-10. Retrieved 2016-07-16.[http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/other-sports/cricket/kiwi-import-tom-latham-vows-1956091#QJj612ksSHLPEs6O.97 Kiwi import Tom Latham vows to rack up runs for the Saltires at Durham today], Daily Record, 2013-06-16. Retrieved 2016-07-16.[http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/10488202.Routine_and_easy_victory_for_Durham/ Routine and easy victory for Durham], Northern Echo, 2013-06-17. Retrieved 2016-07-16. He was selected for the touring New Zealand Test squad during the summer[http://www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-new-zealand-2013/content/story/628171.html Ronchi picked in New Zealand one-day squad], CricInfo, 2013-04-05. Retrieved 2016-07-16.[http://www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-new-zealand-2013/content/story/644393.html Guptill and Taylor shine in solid workout], CricInfo, 2013-06-22. Retrieved 2016-07-16. and for the T20 squad, playing in both T20 internationals on the tour.[http://www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-new-zealand-2013/content/story/643703.html Rutherford, Latham picked for T20 squad], CricInfo, 2013-06-20. Retrieved 2016-07-16.[http://www.thejournal.co.uk/sport/cricket/blaydon-hopeful-winning-weekend-after-4801821 Blaydon hopeful of a winning weekend after victory over Durham Academy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803203830/http://www.thejournal.co.uk/sport/cricket/blaydon-hopeful-winning-weekend-after-4801821 |date=3 August 2020 }}, The Journal, 2013-07-12. Retrieved 2016-07-16.
Kent signed Latham as an overseas player for the 2016 English season.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/35641202 Kent: New Zealand's Tom Latham signs for 2016], BBC sport, 2016-02-23. Retrieved 2016-07-16. He made his County Championship debut against Glamorgan at Canterbury in May, scoring half-centuries in both innings, the first Kent batsman in history to do so on debut.[http://www.espncricinfo.com/county-cricket-2016/content/story/1008221.html Bell-Drummond and Latham continue prolific start], CricInfo, 2016-05-04. Retrieved 2016-07-16.[http://www.kentonline.co.uk/canterbury/sport/latham-quietly-confident-95327/ Overseas batsman Tom Latham from New Zealand reveals what he will bring to Kent Cricket], Kent Online, 2016-05-05. Retrieved 2016-07-16. After playing in all three formats of the game for the county, Latham left Kent in mid-July to join the New Zealand team in Zimbabwe.[http://www.espncricinfo.com/zimbabwe-v-new-zealand-2016/content/story/1034787.html Latham uses 'silly season' to prepare for Africa], CricInfo, 2016-07-15. Retrieved 2016-07-16.
In 2017 Latham signed as an overseas player with Durham for the second half of the 2017 English cricket season.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/38760284 Tom Latham: Durham sign New Zealand batsman for second half of 2017], BBC Sport, 2017-01-26. Retrieved 2017-04-05. In 2023, he signed for Surrey, making his debut against Kent at Canterbury.
In November 2024, he signed for Warwickshire County Cricket Club for the 2025 season.{{cite web|url=https://edgbaston.com/news/new-zealand-test-captain-latham-signs-for-warwickshire/|title=New Zealand Test captain Latham signs for Warwickshire|publisher=Warwickshire County Cricket Club|accessdate=28 November 2024}} After missing the start of the season due to a broken finger,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/c2d498j8ed3o|title=Latham's Bears arrival delayed by hand injury|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=10 May 2025}} Latham made a century on his Warwickshire debut against Surrey at Edgbaston in May 2025.{{cite web|url=https://www.wisden.com/series/county-championship-2025/cricket-news/new-zealand-captain-notches-debut-century-for-new-county-vs-former-side|title=New Zealand captain notches debut century for new county vs former side|publisher=Wisden|accessdate=10 May 2025}}
International career
Latham scored 24 runs on debut, batting at number five, in an ODI against Zimbabwe in 2012. He made his Twenty20 International debut against the West Indies on 30 July, making 15 and 19 in the series. Latham also played in the tour's ODI series but failed to contribute significantly, his highest score being 32. He was recalled against Bangladesh, where he played a bright innings of 43 while opening the batting, and scored a match-winning 86 off 68 balls during the following tour of Sri Lanka.
He made his Test match debut against India in February 2014, with scores of 29 and 0. He then toured the West Indies with New Zealand in June, playing in all three Tests and two T20s. He had a highly successful Test series, scoring three half-centuries and 288 runs in total, finishing second in the series list of top run scorers, just behind teammate Kane Williamson. In doing so he helped his side to an overseas series victory. By July 2014 he had claimed the spot of opener after a run of poor form for incumbents Hamish Rutherford and Peter Fulton. His first Test century was achieved against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi, on 11 November 2014; he scored 103.
Despite his position as an opening batsman in Test matches, Latham was named as a middle-order batsman and backup wicket-keeper to Luke Ronchi for the 2015 Cricket World Cup. He also shared Test wicket-keeping duties against England with BJ Watling, keeping for New Zealand in the first Test at Lord's following an injury to Watling. When he is not a keeper he generally fields close to the wicket or in the slips.
Latham was selected to tour Zimbabwe in 2015 as an opening batsman. During the second ODI of the series, he scored his maiden ODI century of 110 not out as part of an unbeaten partnership with Martin Guptill of 236 as New Zealand won the match by 10 wickets to level the series. In the third Test against Australia in the 2015-16 Trans–Tasman Trophy, the first ever day-night Test match, Latham became the first man to score a fifty in a day-night Test. During the tour he took the only wicket in his high level playing career, a caught behind to dismiss Ryan Carters who had scored 209 alongside Aaron Finch's 288 not out in a game that was abandoned due to pitch conditions shortly after the wicket.
In October 2016, while playing against India at Dharamshala Latham became the tenth batsman and the first New Zealander to carry his bat in an ODI.[http://www.espncricinfo.com/india-v-new-zealand-2016-17/content/story/1061890.html Latham carries bat as NZ fold for 190], CricInfo, 2016-10-16. Retrieved 2017-04-05.
In January 2017 Latham was named as the New Zealand wicket-keeper for the Chappell-Hadlee series.[http://www.espncricinfo.com/new-zealand-v-australia-2016-17/content/story/1078730.html New Zealand call up Blundell for Chappell-Hadlee ODIs], CricInfo, 2017-01-21. Retrieved 2017-04-05. In the first ODI of that series he equalled New Zealand's record of five dismissals as a wicket keeper in an ODI innings.[https://www.newindianexpress.com/sport/cricket/2017/jan/30/new-zealand-beats-australia-by-six-runs-in-thrilling-first-odi-1565045.html New Zealand beats Australia by six runs in thrilling first ODI], New Indian Express, 2017-01-30. Retrieved 2017-04-05. Due to poor form with the bat,{{cite web |last1=McGlashan |first1=Andrew |title=Latham form could create NZ headache |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/tom-latham-form-could-create-nz-headache-1083954 |website=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=11 September 2024 |date=23 February 2017}} however, he was dropped from the ODI side on 1 March during the series against South Africa.
In May 2017 Latham was recalled and named as captain for the Ireland Tri-Series against Ireland and Bangladesh in Ireland with a number of regular players playing in the 2017 Indian Premier League.[http://www.blackcaps.co.nz/news-items/new-look-blackcaps-ireland-bound New look BLACKCAPS Ireland bound] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170624112755/http://www.blackcaps.co.nz/news-items/new-look-blackcaps-ireland-bound |date=24 June 2017 }}, New Zealand cricket. Retrieved 2017-05-09.
In October 2017, Latham was given the wicket-keeping duties against India and moved down to no. 5 due to his ability to play against spin.{{cite web |title=New Zealand prepare to launch Latham in new role |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/new-zealand-prepare-to-launch-tom-latham-in-new-role-1123722 |website=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=11 September 2024 |date=12 October 2017}} He scored an unbeaten 103 from 102 balls in the first game of the 3-match series.[http://scoring.blackcaps.co.nz/livescoring/match4496/scorecard.aspx#current INDIA vs BLACKCAPS], New Zealand cricket. Retrieved 2017-10-23.
In December 2017 Latham resumed his role as acting ODI captain against West Indies with Kane Williamson and Tim Southee rested.{{cite web |last1=Fernando |first1=Andrew Fidel |title=Under-strength New Zealand still favourites |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/wi-in-nz-2017-18-1115785/new-zealand-vs-west-indies-2nd-odi-1115796/match-preview |website=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=11 September 2024 |date=22 December 2017}}
In May 2018, he was one of twenty players to be awarded a new contract for the 2018–19 season by New Zealand Cricket.[http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/23512513/todd-astle-bags-first-new-zealand-contract Todd Astle bags his first New Zealand contract], CricInfo, 2018-05-15. Retrieved 2018-05-15. In December 2018, against Sri Lanka, he made the highest score while carrying the bat in Test cricket, with 264 not out.{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/25555322/tom-latham-registers-highest-individual-score-carrying-bat |title=Tom Latham registers highest individual score while carrying bat |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=17 December 2018}} In April 2019, he was named in New Zealand's squad for the 2019 Cricket World Cup.{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/26426227/sodhi-blundell-named-new-zealand-world-cup-squad |title=Sodhi and Blundell named in New Zealand World Cup squad |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=3 April 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/1154328 |title=Uncapped Blundell named in New Zealand World Cup squad, Sodhi preferred to Astle |work=International Cricket Council |access-date=3 April 2019}} In July 2019, in New Zealand's semi-final match against India, Latham played in his 150th international match for New Zealand.{{cite web|url=https://cricketaddictor.com/cricket/icc-cricket-world-cup-2019-semi-final-1-india-vs-new-zealand-stats-preview/ |title=ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 (Semi-Final 1): India vs New Zealand – Stats Preview |work=Cricket Addictor |access-date=9 July 2019}}
In January 2020, in the third Test against Australia, Latham captained New Zealand for the first time in Test cricket, after Kane Williamson was ruled out of the match due to flu.{{cite web|url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/sport/cricket/williamson-phillips-make-test-debut-black-caps-against-australia |title=Williamson out, Phillips to make Test debut for Black Caps against Australia |work=TVNZ |access-date=3 January 2020}} In February 2020, in the first and second ODI against India, Latham captained New Zealand{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/cricket/story/india-vs-new-zealand-odi-series-kane-williamson-injury-mark-chapman-1643049-2020-02-04 |title=Blow for New Zealand as Kane Williamson ruled out of first 2 ODIs vs India | work=India Today |access-date=4 February 2020}} to win by 4 Wickets and 22 runs after Kane Williamson was ruled out of the match due to a shoulder injury.{{cite web|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12305891 |title=Cricket: Black Caps captain Kane Williamson ruled out of first two ODIs against India | work=NZHerald |access-date=4 February 2020}}
In December 2022, during the first Test against Pakistan, Latham scored his 13th century in Test cricket,{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Ian |date=2022-12-28 |title=Tom Latham makes 13th test century for Black Caps against Pakistan in Karachi |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/cricket/black-caps/300775017/tom-latham-makes-13th-test-century-for-black-caps-against-pakistan-in-karachi |access-date=2022-12-28 |website=Stuff |language=en}} the most by a New Zealand opener in Tests.{{Cite web |title=Williamson firm, but Nauman and Abrar bring Pakistan back |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/new-zealand-in-pakistan-2022-23-1339576/pakistan-vs-new-zealand-1st-test-1339609/match-report |access-date=2022-12-28 |website=ESPNcricinfo}}
Latham was named New Zealand Test team captain in October 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/cn8j32641ego|title=Latham replaces Southee as New Zealand Test captain|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=1 October 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/cricket/black-caps/tim-southee-stands-down-as-black-caps-test-captain-tom-latham-to-lead-in-india-and-beyond/7FTECCRI5JAOTE23JGIUQZXH2U/|title=Tim Southee stands down as Black Caps test captain, Tom Latham to lead in India and beyond|publisher=New Zealand Herald |accessdate=1 October 2024}}
List of international centuries
Latham has scored 13 centuries in Test cricket and 7 in One Day Internationals matches. His highest Test score of 264 not out came against Sri Lanka at the Basin Reserve in December 2018 and his highest ODI score of 145 not out was made against India at Eden Park in Auckland in November 2022.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{cricinfo|id=388802}}
{{New Zealand Test Cricket Captains}}
{{New Zealand ODI Cricket Captains}}
{{New Zealand T20I Cricket Captains}}
{{Current national cricket captains}}
{{New Zealand Squad 2015 Cricket World Cup}}
{{New Zealand Squad 2019 Cricket World Cup}}
{{New Zealand 2021 ICC World Test Championship squad}}
{{New Zealand 2023 Cricket World Cup squad}}
{{Warwickshire County Cricket Club squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Latham, Tom}}
Category:Canterbury cricketers
Category:Cricketers at the 2015 Cricket World Cup
Category:Cricketers at the 2019 Cricket World Cup
Category:Warwickshire cricketers
Category:New Zealand cricketers
Category:New Zealand Test cricketers
Category:New Zealand One Day International cricketers
Category:New Zealand One Day International captains
Category:New Zealand Twenty20 International cricketers
Category:New Zealand Test cricket captains