Birthday special: Tom Latham – 3 Best knocks in Test cricket

New Zealand’s most reliable and consistent batter Tom Latham will turn 30 on April 02, 2022. Born in Christchurch, Latham has been one of the finest batters for NZ over the last few years. He has been trusted with the captaincy duties as well whenever the regular skipper Kane Williamson is not a part of the squad. The left-handed batter has played some brilliant and exceptional innings for the Kiwis especially in the purest format of the game in his career.

Let’s take a look at 3 of the best innings played by Tom Latham in Test matches:

137 vs Pakistan in 2014

With a loss in the first game, New Zealand won the toss and opted to bat first in the second of the three-match Test series against Pakistan in 2014 in Dubai. Tom Latham opened the batting with skipper Brendon McCullum and smashed 137 runs off 269 deliveries, which included 11 fours and a six. In tough Asian conditions, against Yasir Shah and Zulfiqar Babar, Latham’s innings set the platform for a big score for the Kiwis as they posted 403 runs in the first innings. His knock proved to be crucial as NZ drew the match to stay alive in the series.

252 vs Bangladesh in 2022

After suffering a shocking defeat at the hands of Bangladesh in the first Test in January 2022 at home, NZ needed to respond. They batted first in the second and final match of the series in Christchurch. Skippering the side, Latham came out to open the innings with Will Young and slammed 252 runs off 373 balls with the help of 34 fours and two sixes. He laid the foundation for a big score as Kiwis scored 521/6d. New Zealand won the match by an innings and 117 runs to level the series 1-1 as Latham was adjudged with the Player of the Match.

264* vs Sri Lanka in 2018

Latham was at his very best when he played a classy knock of unbeaten 264 runs against Sri Lanka in Basin Reserve, Wellington in 2018. He faced a mammoth 489 deliveries as he struck 21 fours and a six in this innings. He registered his highest Test score with this brilliant innings as he helped NZ in scoring 578 runs in reply to Sri Lanka’s 282. The match got drawn and the left-handed Kiwi was declared Player of the Match. Latham scripted the sixth-highest individual score by a New Zealander in Test cricket with this special knock.