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Latham ready for chance

Son poised to mark his mark

02/01/2012 07:33:41 AM

Rookie New Zealand cricketer Tom Latham was born just 12 days after New Zealand was beaten in the semi-finals of the one-day World Cup in 1992.

Few will forget the scenes as the New Zealanders, many in tears after their loss to eventual winner Pakistan, did a lap of honour around Eden Park.

The players included Rod Latham, a pugnacious opening batsman whose son Tom, only 19, is part of the New Zealand one-day squad for the one-day series against Zimbabwe which begins in Dunedin on Friday.

"Dad never really talked about it a lot," Latham junior said yesterday. "He just said how really disappointing it was to lose in the semis after such a great campaign."

Now Tom Latham, who bats left-handed and keep wickets, is poised to make his own mark on the national scene.

He has played only nine first-class matches, and 10 one-dayers for Canterbury (in which he has scored 407 runs at 50.87 with a top score of 130 and two half-centuries) but he has clearly been identified as an exceptional talent.

"It was a pretty surreal feeling, really," he said of his selection. "As a kid growing up, you dream of playing for your country and to get the call from Kim Littlejohn (national selection manager) made it come true.

"Dad was the first person I called. He was out on the golf course and he was as proud as punch. Mum was in the driveway when I got home and gave me a big hug, which was quite cool.

"Dad hasn't really coached me, he's been there more as a mentor. He always texts me before games and says 'back yourself and believe' and that sort of thing. He's been there and done that. He's been where I want to get to and it's nice to have his influence.

"I didn't see a lot of him when he played but I hear he tried to smash everything. It's probably not quite what I try to do but pretty similar, I'd say. He's had a couple of hip replacements so he doesn't quite beat me in backyard cricket any more."

Latham recalled when he was a boy his father gave him a little cut-down bat which he still has at home in Christchurch.

"It's been an unbelievable few days," he said. "It's a nice feeling. I've got no particular expectations of what's ahead. I just want to try to carry on and play as I have for Canterbury.

"I haven't got too much information on the Zimbabwe players but I'm doing my homework on them."

Rod Latham, now 50, played 33 one-dayers for New Zealand and scored 583 runs at 20.10. He scored 219 runs in four tests at 31.28 with a top score of 119 against Zimbabwe. His first-class career spanned 1980 to 1995 and he scored 6298 runs at 37.04 in 108 matches with nine centuries.

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images

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