Mitchell Santner Steps Up: New Zealand's Surprise Test Captain

Mitchell Santner has been appointed as the new captain of New Zealand's men's Test team for their upcoming match against Zimbabwe, stepping in for the injured Tom Latham. The announcement was confirmed by the International Cricket Council (ICC). Latham sustained a shoulder injury during a domestic T20 game in England, rendering him unavailable for the first Test.

Santner, who boasts an impressive record with 1066 runs and 74 wickets in 30 Tests, recently guided New Zealand to a T20I Tri-Series victory in Harare. Despite the setback of losing Latham, a key player, Blackcaps head coach Rob Walter expressed confidence in Santner's leadership potential, citing his recent success and the support he would receive from experienced Test players.

Walter stated, "It's a loss not having Latham, a world-class opening batter. We'll work to have him ready for the second Test. In the meantime, Mitch Santner's recent performance in T20s and his respect within the team makes him a trusted leader for the Test format." Among the squad are players like Tom Blundell and Devon Conway, ready to support Santner in this new role.

(With inputs from agencies.)