Thomas William Maxwell Latham, commonly known as Tom Latham, is a professional cricket player from New Zealand. Born on April 2, 1992, in Christchurch, Latham followed in his father’s footsteps to become an integral part of the New Zealand national cricket team.
Latham’s cricket journey began at an early age, as he represented New Zealand in the Under-19 World Cup in 2010. This experience gave him a taste of higher-level cricket and set the stage for his future achievements. In the same year, Latham made his debut in domestic cricket for Canterbury in first-class matches.
In 2012, Latham’s talent was recognized, and he was given the opportunity to represent New Zealand in One Day Internationals (ODIs) and Twenty20 internationals. Although he initially struggled to find his place in the team, it was clear that Latham possessed immense skill and potential.
However, it was in Test cricket that Latham truly began to shine. His debut Test match was against India in Wellington in February 2014, where he proved his mettle as an opener. In the following series against the West Indies, Latham impressed with three consecutive half-centuries, contributing to New Zealand’s overseas series win. He further established himself as a key player by scoring centuries in successive tests against Pakistan in the UAE, a feat that had not been achieved by a New Zealand batsman in 24 years.
Latham’s success in Test cricket continued to grow, and he became a regular opener for the New Zealand team. His most notable achievement came in December 2018 when he carried his bat in a Test innings against Sri Lanka in Wellington, scoring an extraordinary 264 not out. This historic innings broke the record for the highest score by any opener while carrying his bat, surpassing Alastair Cook’s 244 not out against Australia in 2017. Latham became only the second New Zealand opener to achieve this feat after Glenn Turner.
While Latham’s Test performances were remarkable, he also played a crucial role in limited-overs cricket. In the 2015 World Cup, Latham was a part of the New Zealand squad, although he did not get an opportunity to showcase his talent. However, during the tour to Africa later that year, he seized the chance to prove himself. Latham made his maiden ODI hundred in Zimbabwe and followed it up with three consecutive half-centuries in South Africa while opening the batting.
Throughout his cricket career, Latham displayed incredible versatility, batting in every position from No. 1 to 9 in limited-overs cricket. In 2017, he was shifted to No.5 in ODIs and also took on the responsibility of being the wicketkeeper following the retirement of Luke Ronchi. Latham excelled in this role, scoring an unbeaten 103 in his first innings at No.5 in a winning chase against India in Mumbai.
Latham’s contributions to New Zealand cricket have undoubtedly been significant. His skillful batting, solid technique, and unyielding determination have made him an indispensable member of the team. With a promising future ahead, Latham continues to be a key player for New Zealand and a source of inspiration for aspiring cricketers around the world.
