The Star: January 26, 2017

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Thursday January 26 2017 49
Sport
Latham may keep wickets
OPENING BATSMAN Tom
Latham is shaping as New
Zealand’s likely wicketkeeper in
the one-day international series
against Australia.
Coach Mike
Hesson spoke up
the merits of handing
the duties to
part-time gloveman
Latham (left) for
the three-match
series beginning in Auckland
on Monday, which would deny
a debut to Wellington specialist
Tom Blundell.
Hesson will save his decision
until after they watch Latham
behind the stumps for Canterbury
against Auckland in
Rangiora on Saturday.
That falls two days out from
the Eden Park opener, where the
24-year-old will play his 50th
ODI.
“He needs to get through a full
50 overs and show that he can
back up,” Hesson said.
“It’ll depend on the balance
we want once we look at the
surface, but if we go with Tom
Latham, we’re able to have another
power player in the middle
or have an extra bowling option.
“We’ve used him in the past
spasmodically and he’s done a
KEEPER: Mike Hesson is considering giving Tom Latham the
wicketkeeping gloves for the upcoming ODI series against
Australia.
PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES
very good job for us.”
Latham was primarily a
middle-order batsman when he
played three ODIs and four T20s
as a wicketkeeper early in his
career.
He has since established
himself as a quality opening
batsman at test and ODI level.
Test keeper BJ Watling was
unsuccessfully used when New
Zealand were thrashed 3-0 in
the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy
series in Australia in December.
Veteran Luke Ronchi is
regarded as New Zealand’s premier
limited overs gloveman but
is sidelined with a groin injury.
Meanwhile, Hesson expressed
no surprise that match-winning
Australian opener David Warner
was rested for the series.
He says the absence of the
Allan Border Medal winner is
simply a sign of the busy cricketing
times.
“Most sides either have someone
left out at some stage or
injuries,” he said.
“We’ve certainly been in that
boat where we’ve got a lot of
guys unavailable as well.
“I think they’ve still got plenty
of good players.” – NZ Herald
Heinz hat-trick puts his
English club into quarters
A WILLI Heinz hat-trick
has sealed a home European
Challenge Cup quarter-final for
Gloucester over the weekend.
The former Canterbury and
Crusaders halfback racked up
three tries within 47 minutes
as he led his club to a 64-19
shellacking of Bayonne at
Kingsholm.
Replacement prop Josh
Hohneck also crossed for a try.
The Kiwi-laden Gloucester side
also included Tom Marshall,
John Afoa, Jeremy Thrush and
Joe Latta in their match-day
squad. Bayonne fielded Ryan
Tongia on the left wing.
Gloucester will now host Welsh
regional side Cardiff Blues on the
weekend of March 31-April 2 in
the playoffs.
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