ZIM vs NZ 2025: Tom Latham Ruled Out of First Test Against Zimbabwe with Shoulder Injury

Due to a shoulder injury, New Zealand captain Tom Latham will not play in the first Test match against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, which begins on July 30. Mitchell Santner, the white-ball captain, has been named stand-in captain during his absence, becoming the 32nd player to captain New Zealand in men's Test cricket. Earlier this month, Latham suffered the injury while playing for the Birmingham Bears in a Vitality Blast T20 encounter. The left-handed opener is on the touring team, but he hasn't healed enough to be included in the starting lineup for the first game of the series.

Mitchell Santner has been named the new captain in the interim. In addition to being the white-ball captain, he will soon be named New Zealand's 32nd Test captain. He recently guided his country to triumph in a tri-series against South Africa and Zimbabwe. Rob Walter, the head coach, stated upon Santner's hiring that he thinks the captaincy is in good hands but that Latham's leadership will be missed.

Tom Latham Out of First Test:

Squad News | Test captain Tom Latham has been ruled out of the first Test against Zimbabwe with a shoulder injury.

In Latham's absence, white-ball captain Mitch Santner will lead the team, becoming New Zealand's 32nd men’s Test captain. Full story | https://t.co/GDMAcfofdk… pic.twitter.com/GLmwlommYJ

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) July 29, 2025

Head coach Rob Walter said, "It's hugely disappointing for Tom to be missing the first Test, as captain but also as an integral part of the team. It's never great when you lose your captain, who's a world-class opening batter and a great team man, but that said, we're going to work really hard to have him available for the second Test. We'll continue to assess and see whether a replacement player is necessary, but at this stage we are hopeful that he'll recover in time."

Earlier this month, Latham suffered the injury while playing for the Birmingham Bears in a Vitality Blast T20 encounter. The left-handed opener is on the touring team, but he hasn't healed enough to be included in the starting lineup for the first game of the series.

For the first time, Mitchell Santner assumes the responsibilities in the extended format while Latham is away. A thrilling three-run victory over South Africa in the final was part of the 32-year-old all-rounder's successful T20I tri-series campaign in Harare with New Zealand's white-ball team. He was given the red-ball captaincy because of his leadership in that series.

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