Tom Latham keen on earning a permanent place in the New Zealand squad – Cricket News Update
Wicketkeeper batsman Tom Latham has expressed his eagerness to use his chances in the upcoming tour of the West Indies to cement a permanent place in the national squad.
“I want to cement myself in the New Zealand side and play as much cricket for them in all three forms,” he said. “My main goal at the moment is working towards the 2015 World Cup (in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 and New Zealand).”
“There are a few opportunities coming up... but if I'm batting at one or 11 in the New Zealand team I'll be happy.”
20-year-old Latham is affiliated with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Canterbury-c775, and has played a total of 15 First-class matches (with 741 runs), and 13 List-A matches (with 486 runs to his credit). He has also played 6 T20s, with 72 runs to his name.
He made his international debut earlier this year during http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045 in February. The left-hander scored a total of 79 runs in three innings, with his highest score being 48.
Selectors refrained from including him in the squads for the series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757, in order to grant him more time to develop his game. However, he was named in the ODI and T20 squads for the Kiwis' upcoming tour of the West Indies. Latham expressed
his eagerness to prove himself, but added that his ultimate aim was to play Test cricket for the national team.
“I have been given an opportunity with the Twenty20 and one-dayers but test cricket is the pinnacle. That's my ultimate goal, to play for the Blacks Caps in test cricket," he said.
He went on to point out that he was in contention for the wicketkeeping spot in the team with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/BJ-Watling-c1172, who has played a total of 7 Tests and 9 ODIs.
The Kiwis' tour of the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760 is due to kick off on the June 30, with a 2-match T20 series. That will be followed by a 5-match ODI series, due to be played from July 5 to 16, after which the teams will be playing a two-match Test series, from July 25
to August 6.
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