20 October,2017 08:45 AM IST | Mumbai | Noel D'Souza
Early last week, Blackcaps coach Mike Hesson declared that opener Tom Latham will have to surrender his opening role to bat lower down the order
Early last week, Blackcaps coach Mike Hesson declared that opener Tom Latham will have to surrender his opening role to bat lower down the order. With Martin Guptill and Colin Munro opening and looking well settled in both the warm-up matches ahead of the three ODIs against India, it looks a certainty that the same combination will continue in the first ODI on October 22 at the Wankhede Stadium.
Tom Latham
Hesson justified his move suggesting he wants to "generate a strike-rate at the top". Latham, who batted at No. 5 in yesterday's match, will own the position henceforth. "The move is something that we have discussed. It was nice to have spent some time in the middle and get familiar with that role today. Facing a couple of left-armers and the leggie playing today, was ideal preparation. Colin at the top can be very destructive. If he and Martin Guptill can get going, they can be unstoppable," the gloveman told reporters.
Martin Guptill and Colin Munro
Asked about the challenges he will face batting at No. 5, Latham added: "It's probably more of a mental shift, as opposed to technical. The spinners will be bowling through that middle (overs), so there are more gaps and it will be about making some tactical changes more than anything else."
