Wellington, Nov 7: New Zealand skipper Tom Latham remained considerate even after the historic 3-0 Test series clean sweep against India recently, asserting that Rohit Sharma’s “quality” side has the ability to make a resounding comeback soon.
The Kiwis, under Latham, became the first visiting side to whitewash India in a three-match home series, winning the Bengaluru, Pune and Mumbai Tests.
“Indian cricket in general is really special. We’ve played against them a lot. The guys play with them at the IPL. They were certainly gracious in defeat and they’re still a quality side,” Latham said after arriving here from India.
“They certainly don’t become a bad team overnight and I’m sure they’ll turn things around in time,” he added.
Latham said the series victory became much sweeter because New Zealand suffered 0-2 defeat against Sri Lanka before landing in India.
“When we were in Sri Lanka a few weeks, where things didn’t necessarily go our way, so, I think it makes these times extra special when you’re able to achieve something that hasn’t been achieved before.
“It is just about enjoying everyone’s company, celebrating together. We had a couple of extra days to recover over there, so that was great,” he said.
New Zealand will now face England in a three-match series at home, and Latham said fronting up to the ‘Bazball’ brand of cricket will offer his team a vastly different challenge.
“I think it’s an exciting one. I guess you look at the Test matches in the past against England, whether it be home or away, they’ve always tended to be reasonably exciting. So, I’m sure this series will be no different.
“They’ve got an attacking brand that they like to play and I’m sure it will be no different in terms of how they like to approach it. So, yeah, we’re looking forward to it. Yeah, it’ll be a great challenge,” said Latham. PTI
With an emphatic 3-0 sweep over India under their belt, New Zealand now shifts its focus to the upcoming home series against England, where they’ll encounter the aggressive ‘Bazball’ style of play. Latham, while basking in the historic achievement, remains both humble and grounded, acknowledging India’s quality and capacity for resurgence.
The win, particularly sweet after their struggles in Sri Lanka, exemplifies New Zealand’s resilience and unity as a squad. As they prepare to tackle England’s high-octane approach, the Kiwis look poised for yet another thrilling contest, backed by the momentum of their unprecedented success in India. As New Zealand looks ahead to the clash against England, the series win in India will undoubtedly serve as a morale booster. For Latham and his men, it’s a reminder of their potential on the world stage and their ability to compete—and win—in challenging conditions. (PTI)
