New Zealand face major setback as key player ruled out of first Zimbabwe Test

New Zealand captain Tom Latham has been ruled out of the first Test against Zimbabwe starting at Queens Sports Club on Wednesday.

New Zealand white-ball captain Mitch Santner will lead the team in Latham’s absence.

According to a statement by New Zealand Cricket (NZC) on Tuesday, Latham injured a shoulder while fielding in a Twenty20 match in England earlier this month and has not fully recovered.

Tom Latham will remain with the squad in the hope of being fit for the second Test, which starts on August 7.

“It’s hugely disappointing for Tom to be missing the first Test, as captain but also as an integral part of the team,” head coach Rob Walter said.

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“It’s never great when you lose your captain, who’s a world-class opening batter and a great team man, but that said, we’re going to work really hard to have him available for the second Test.

“We’ll continue to assess and see whether a replacement player is necessary, but at this stage we are hopeful that he’ll recover in time.”

Left-arm spin bowler Santner will become New Zealand’s 32nd men’s Test captain. He led the white-ball team to victory in a T20 white-ball series against Zimbabwe and South Africa, which ended last Saturday.

“Mitch did a wonderful job with the T20 squad,” said Walter.

“He was excellent from a strategy point of view, and he has a strong understanding of the game.”

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