New Zealand captain Tom Latham has expressed his elation after the team’s historic 3-0 clean sweep over India in the three-match Test series. Tom Latham praised his players for their aggressive batting and proactive bowling, resulting in India’s first-ever 0-3 defeat at home.
The third Test in Mumbai witnessed India falling short by 25 runs, as they failed to chase 147 and were bowled out for just 121.
New Zealand captain Tom Latham expressed joy after his team’s historic series whitewash, particularly following a recent series loss to Sri Lanka. Tom Latham praised his teammates for their ability to adjust to different conditions at each venue in the recently concluded three-match Test series in India.
Tom Latham Becomes 1st New Zealand Captain In History To Win 3 Tests In A Series
Tom Latham was appointed as New Zealand Test captain ahead of the three-match series against India, and in his first assignment as full-time captain, the left-handed batter Tom Latham created history by becoming the first captain in history to whitewash India in a three-match Test series played on Indian soil. The achievement becomes even more special for the Kiwis, as they managed to achieve the feat in the absence of legendary batter and former captain Kane Williamson.
Williamson, who is New Zealand’s leading run scorer in Test cricket, was included in the squad for the three-match series, but due to fitness-related issues he didn’t travel to India. In Kane’s absence, Will Young batted at No. 3 for the visitors and scored 244 runs in three matches to win the Player of the Series award. Before the recently concluded series, Kiwis had only managed to win two Tests on Indian soil in 69 years, but things have changed now.
By winning three Tests against India, Tom Latham also entered his name in history books, as he has now become the first ever New Zealand captain ever to win three Tests in a series (home or away). The Kiwis played their first Test in 1930 against England, but till date they had never managed to win three matches in one series.
In the away series against India, Tom Latham was however unable to produce a good show with the bat and only managed to score 145 runs in six innings. But his captaincy was spot on. With his brilliant leadership, he always kept Indian batters on backfoot, and they never looked comfortable against Kiwi bowlers throughout the series.
New Zealand secured a 25-run victory in the third Test match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday, October 3. Ajaz Patel and Will Young helped them to complete a whitewash win against India. Ajaz took a 10-wicket haul, while Will Young scored two half-centuries for the New Zealand team.
Tom Latham praised his teammates for their ability to adjust to different conditions at each venue and also their ability to adapt to the surroundings and performing accordingly too the situation.
Tom Latham hails India series whitewash 3-0 as one of the greatest chapter in NZ cricket history
New Zealand Test captain Tom Latham termed his side’s historic 3-0 whitewash away against India as one of the country’s “greatest series wins”. He said his team will celebrate the victory over the next few days, even as the weight of their achievement settles in slowly.
New Zealand, without their best batter Kane Williamson for the entire series, inflicted the first-ever home whitewash on India in a rubber with three or more Tests. Before this, the Kiwis hadn’t won a Test in India since 1988.
“It’s been a massive achievement, after the first (Test) it was obviously pretty special; the second one to win a series was even more special,” Latham said in the post-series press conference (via India Today).
“We spoke about coming here and trying to adapt as much as we can and to be in this position (of winning) 3-0, it’s certainly a series that I’ll never forget. We’ll obviously celebrate as a group together over tonight and the next couple of days before we head home. It’s certainly been an amazing series to be a part of… It will sink in a little bit more when we get home and once the dust settles a little bit.
“It’s obviously a great moment for New Zealand cricket, probably one of New Zealand cricket’s greatest series wins,” he added.
Tom Latham’s men first Test win in Bengaluru was set up by the pacers, who bowled India out for 46 in the first innings after losing the toss. For the next two games, where the visitors comprehensively outshone the Indians, Tom Latham admitted that winning the toss and getting the chance to set the total helped their chances massively.
Didn’t believe the game was over when Rishabh was still there: Tom Latham
New Zealand always looked like the better team but India managed to take the final Test and the possibility of avoiding a whitewash to 50-odd runs on Day 3. Despite another top-order collapse, Rishabh Pant stood tall with a logic-defying 64 (57) and got out only when an on-field call of not-out for a catch against him was overturned.
“With Rishabh still there, I certainly didn’t believe that the game was over,” Latham said.
“They (India) have match winners throughout their side and they’ve been successful playing the way that they’ve been playing for a long period of time.”
The 3-0 win over India also gave a boost to New Zealand’s chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final, which is scheduled to take place at Lord’s in June next year. The Kiwis have 54.55 PCT%, and if they manage to whitewash England in the three-match Test series later this month, then they will have a chance to finish in the top-two.
On the other hand, after losing back-to-back three Tests in front of home fans, India has now dropped to No. 2 position in the WTC 2023-25 points table, and they have to win four out of the remaining five Tests to confirm their place in the WTC final next year.