Mitchell Santner will continue to lead the New Zealand Test team in the second and final Test against Zimbabwe, as Tom Latham has been ruled out after failing to recover from a left shoulder injury. Stand-in captain Santner also confirmed that Jacob Duffy will make his Test debut in the series decider.
Latham, who missed the first Test due to the injury, had been undergoing rehabilitation with hopes of returning for the second match. However, he was unable to pass a fitness test on the eve of the game.
Head coach Rob Walter confirmed the development, calling it “hugely disappointing.”
“He’s been working hard and had been tracking well towards the second Test, but unfortunately today he couldn’t pass his fitness tests,” Walter said. “He’s extremely gutted he won’t be able to take the park and we’re really feeling for him.”
In response to Latham’s absence, 23-year-old Bevon Jacobs has been added to the squad as fielding and batting cover. Jacobs, who made his international debut recently during the T20I tri-series, was playing club cricket in Johannesburg and was able to travel to Bulawayo at short notice.
“With Tom being ruled out on the eve of the match, we needed to quickly bring in an extra pair of hands,” Walter explained. “Thankfully, Bevon had been playing in Johannesburg and was able to make the short trip.”
Duffy, who is finally set for his Test debut, has been in and around the New Zealand setup for some time. He has toured England twice and was part of the squad that swept India 3-0 in the subcontinent last year, but has previously been overlooked for a Test cap.
With Nathan Smith and Will O’Rourke unavailable, New Zealand have two vacant spots in their XI. One of them has now been filled by Duffy, while a decision on the final selection will be made closer to the start of the match.
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