May 9, 2026 • 12 mins
The Black Caps are gearing up for their latest test series.
The Kiwi side will face off against England in a three-test series - and it's likely to be challenging endeavour for the team.
Black Caps test captain Tom Latham joined Piney to discuss.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Vine
from news Talk zed B.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
To the UK for a three Test tour against England
that follows a one off Test at the back end
of May against Ireland. The squad, a big squad, an
extended squad of nineteen players, has delivered a fascinating mix
of experience, returning firepower and fresh opportunity. Kyle Jamison, Will
(00:32):
O'Rourke and Ben Sears all back in the Test picture.
Dean Foxcroft has earned his maiden Test call up. Jacob
Duffy will miss the tour. He's going to stay in
New Zealand as he and his wife await the birth
of their first child. Caine Williamson is back into the
red ball environment plenty to dissect ahead of one of
(00:52):
the toughest assignments in world cricket, that is winning a
Test series in England. The team is Tom Latham, who's
the captain, Tom Blundell, Christian Clark, Devon Conway, Christian Clark
by the way only for the Island Test. Devin Conway,
Zach Folks, Dean Foxcroft, Matt Henry Cole, Jamison, Darryl Mitchell,
Henry Nichols, will I Row, Glenn Phillips, Michael Ray who's
(01:14):
there for the Island Test only, rtch and Ravendrun, Ben
Sears who will be there for Ireland and also a
traveling reserve for England. Nathan Smith, Blair Tick now came
Williamson and Will Young who was there just for the
Irish Test. New Zealand Test captain Tom Latham is with us. Tom,
thanks for taking the time. First of all, what's your
(01:34):
overall assessment of this squad that you've been able to
name for these test matches against Ireland and then on
to England.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
Yeah, I was really excited about the group that we've got.
Obviously the first one against Ireland. There's obviously a few
things up in the air with guys returning from the
IPL and all that sort of thing, but yeah, I'm
so really excited. As you said, a little bit of youse,
a little bit of experience, but also some guys coming
back you know that haven't been around the test scene
(02:06):
for for a while, you know the likes of Carl Jamison,
Willow Rourke, so it's great to see them be back
on the park and you're really excited about the next
sort of four weeks, but also the next sort of
twelve twelve months of Test cricket coming up.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Yeah, certainly exciting times for fans and no doubt for
players too. Can ask you about Carl Jamison Willow Rourke,
as you say back in the mix after injury layoffs
with Cole Jamison, he you know, he's been through a
bit of a ritched time. He's been building back through
white ball cricket. What have you seen from him that
gives you the confidence he's ready to play Test cricket
again after such a long time away from the red
(02:41):
ball international game.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
Yeah. I think with Kj's obviously had a tough time
you know, probably not necessarily last twelve months, but sort
of the last the previous twelve twenty four months in
terms of you know, injuries coming back and things not
being quite right. But I think the work that he's
put in certainly over the last yeah, twelve and twenty
four months to get himself back on the park. Think
(03:06):
we're obviously seeing he's played a full summer of white
ball cricket, you know, which is which has been great
and it's all building blocks for him to get back
to playing Test cricket, which which he loves and obviously
wants to do again, which is a huge benefit to
New Zealand cricket. So you know, really excited to see
him back in a Test squad and sort of Willow
(03:28):
Rocks a little bit the same and you know, a
similar injury. You played a little bit of white ball
cricket over the last sort of a month or so.
But to see him, to see him charging in the
mets as as really exciting. And again to have both
of those guys play alongside each other, which they haven't
done in Test cricket, is is hugely exciting and they're
(03:50):
really excited to have them both both back in the
group with.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
The heightened bounce that they both provide. Tom, you know,
do you feel as though English conditions will will be
perfectly suited to the way they go about their past bowling. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
I think with those two, I think their ability to
adapt as probably the biggest run I think you look back,
you know when kJ was playing tests Crek. I think
the ability for him to bring the stumps into play,
for a big, tall guy to be able to swing
the ball both ways, and obviously the bounce that they
both get as a huge asset. We know how good England,
(04:24):
how good a side they are, and obviously it's their
first you know series post sashes, you know, which is
obviously going to be an exciting time for them too,
but you know, really excited the I guess the attributes
that both those guys bring sort of balance out our
bowling attack out quite nicely.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
And I made and call up for Dean Foxcroft, who
have seen the white ball stuff. Of course, what was
it about him that that impressed the selectors and yourself
not to suggest that he could he could be a
red ball option for you as well.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
Yeah, I think from a role point of view, you know,
we're sort of one of a like to like, you
know in terms of what and you know what obviously
match brings to the group and it's I guess a
similar role. But we were we were trying to cover
I think, you know, the way he performed in Bangladesh
and you know it was was quite quite impressive. He's
come a long way, certainly over the last twelve add
(05:16):
mus play a little bit of a cricket, you know,
So I think that the ability for him to come
in and keep being himself, you know, keep I guess, learning,
keep striving to be better and learn from the different guys,
and that's certainly what he's done the times that I've
been involved with him, certainly over the last month in Bangladesh.
So yeah, I always exciting when guys get their first
(05:39):
opportunity to be in a test squad, and obviously really
excited Foxy to be in the mix. There.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
You mentioned Mitchell Sander there. His shoulder injury is going
to continue to be monitored as he rehabilitates. How confident
are you that he might play some part later in
the series. Maybe maybe obviously not Ireland, but maybe in
some of the Test matches against England.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
Yeah, definitely confident that he will get back to or
be fit for for available for selection. See it's a
week by week case. Obviously, want to go himself the
the best opportunity to get it right first and foremost,
and hopefully we're presented with the opportunity that he will
be available, whether it be first, second, third Test, well,
(06:20):
they just have to have to wait and see what
that looks like. But never injuries and never ideal timing.
But Y he guttered for much to unfortunately pick up
this little injury over and over and there does.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
It feel as though Tom the that you'll you'll rely
largely on the same attack that that you're spending all
around It might be Glenn Phillips for example.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Yeah, I think if you look over well a long
time now, you know that in terms of the balance
of our squad that we've had not necessarily the last
twelve months, but three, four or five years ago. I
think that's a balance that we've sort of tended to
have in conditions you know, like England, like New Zealand.
(07:02):
I think the strike that I said, the strides that
GP's taken over the last you know, a couple of
years being in that role. From a spin point of view,
you know, he's gone from strength to strength and is
byling someone that certainly leaves no stone Unturnedy works really
hard at that aspect of his game, and also think
some of the knock that he's played from a batting
(07:23):
point of view have been hugely vital in that sort
of middle order for us. And you know, we're very
fortunate that we do have someone like Rush as well,
who does offer us another spin option if conditions do suits. So, yeah,
that's obviously the balance that we've tended to go with
and I'm sure it'll be similar to I guess what
we're facing over in England as well.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
From a batting point of view, what are the biggest
most specific challenges batsman face and English conditions.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
I think, first and foremost, it's obviously a different ball.
I've said the Juke's ball compared compared to a Cookobarra
ball here in New Zealand. You know, it obviously tends
to do a little bit more off the surface, but
you know surfaces over and can be a little bit slower,
and you know the ball tends to I guess move
sideways a little bit off the surface and it can
swing a little bit more. So we're kind of fortunate
(08:16):
that most guys have played in England at some point,
whether it be international, where it be county cricket. So
I guess it's important for guys to to lean back
on those experiences and and tack that. And what's obviously
going to be a really exciting series one that's obviously
been I guess highlighted, you know, a couple of years ago,
and to I guess to finally be here it is
(08:37):
really exciting. I'll see it a Test against Island first,
which is you know, just as exciting for us as well.
But yeah, just I think guys are looking forward to
the opportunity of getting back and to rebel cricket. You know,
it's been a light diet of Test cricket. I'll see
only playing three this summer. But yeah, I've said from
a test point of view, you look at the next
(08:58):
twelve twelve months, you know, it's a I guess it's
a period of cricket that we've never really been exposed
to from a from a test point of view, yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
It must be exciting as you say, I mean Ireland
and England, then India back here and then that four
Test tour of Australia for you know, for someone who
enjoys their red ball cricket as much as you do
and will get obviously the opportunity to lead the side
through this very exciting period. You know how exciting a
prospect is the next twelve months for you.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
It's hugely exciting, I think. Yeah, as I said, it's
probably you know, a time that New Zealand cricket has
never had in terms of the amount of cricket that
we tend to play in a short space of time,
and to have the twelve tests in the space of
a twelve months period, you know, maybe even a little
bit less as massive for us, and especially to be
(09:48):
playing eight over our home summer, you know, when you
get to the back end of this year is really
exciting and we know we're going to need a full
squad you know, throughout those eight test matches at home,
you know, to pick from, and you know, as I said,
it's unique. You know, there's going to be different times,
it's going to be different challenges from you know, bodies
(10:10):
and getting through that amount of cricket. But you know,
we're fortunate we've been able to build up a squad
over the last or twelve twenty four months. You know
that anyone that we do call upon as ready to
go and it had experience in Test cricket.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
Do you get a sense that England will temper the
way they've played Test cricket given their heavy Ashes defeat
or do you still expect the bean Stargs Brendan McCallum
strategy to be a very aggressive one.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
Yeah, it's sort of hard to know. I guess. I
guess you look at their squad as a whole, regardless
of who they pick there's so much talent in England
that I think the ability for them to adapt to
play a style that they want to play, and you
know that they're able to do that because they're also counted.
So I guess whatever they do come with, whether it
(11:00):
be a similar approach or whether it be something slightly different.
For us, it's always about trying to adapt to to
the way that they play, but also focusing as much
as we can on the approach that we want to
take into things, to look into the opposition and what
they might do or what they might not do or
Hudel Perkin, you know who's going to play. But for us,
(11:21):
we know if we play our style and our brands
as best we can, and we know we'll have the
ability to adapt to what's thrown at us, and hopefully
that will give us a good opportunity towards the back
end of Test matches to put ourselves in winning positions
and go from there.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
Very exciting times. Fans of Test cricket have been hanging
out for this period to arrive. It almost has Tom.
Thanks for taking the time for a chat this afternoon.
Travel safe mate, look forward to seeing how you go
over in Ireland. And England and then back here when
the home summer approaches.
Speaker 3 (11:51):
Pert, thank you very much, No, thank you very much.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
Tom, Tom Latham there, red ball captain for New Zealand.
So the Test against Ireland, the one off Test, it's
a four day Test, starts on the twenty seventh of May,
runs through until the thirtieth and Belfast, and then three
Test matches against England at Lord's June four through eight,
at the Oval in London June seventeen to twenty one,
(12:15):
and then to trent Bridge, Nottingham for the Third Test
June twenty five to twenty nine.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk set B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Vine
from news Talk zed B.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
To the UK for a three Test tour against England
that follows a one off Test at the back end
of May against Ireland. The squad, a big squad, an
extended squad of nineteen players, has delivered a fascinating mix
of experience, returning firepower and fresh opportunity. Kyle Jamison, Will
(00:32):
O'Rourke and Ben Sears all back in the Test picture.
Dean Foxcroft has earned his maiden Test call up. Jacob
Duffy will miss the tour. He's going to stay in
New Zealand as he and his wife await the birth
of their first child. Caine Williamson is back into the
red ball environment plenty to dissect ahead of one of
(00:52):
the toughest assignments in world cricket, that is winning a
Test series in England. The team is Tom Latham, who's
the captain, Tom Blundell, Christian Clark, Devon Conway, Christian Clark
by the way only for the Island Test. Devin Conway,
Zach Folks, Dean Foxcroft, Matt Henry Cole, Jamison, Darryl Mitchell,
Henry Nichols, will I Row, Glenn Phillips, Michael Ray who's
(01:14):
there for the Island Test only, rtch and Ravendrun, Ben
Sears who will be there for Ireland and also a
traveling reserve for England. Nathan Smith, Blair Tick now came
Williamson and Will Young who was there just for the
Irish Test. New Zealand Test captain Tom Latham is with us. Tom,
thanks for taking the time. First of all, what's your
(01:34):
overall assessment of this squad that you've been able to
name for these test matches against Ireland and then on
to England.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
Yeah, I was really excited about the group that we've got.
Obviously the first one against Ireland. There's obviously a few
things up in the air with guys returning from the
IPL and all that sort of thing, but yeah, I'm
so really excited. As you said, a little bit of youse,
a little bit of experience, but also some guys coming
back you know that haven't been around the test scene
(02:06):
for for a while, you know the likes of Carl Jamison,
Willow Rourke, so it's great to see them be back
on the park and you're really excited about the next
sort of four weeks, but also the next sort of
twelve twelve months of Test cricket coming up.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Yeah, certainly exciting times for fans and no doubt for
players too. Can ask you about Carl Jamison Willow Rourke,
as you say back in the mix after injury layoffs
with Cole Jamison, he you know, he's been through a
bit of a ritched time. He's been building back through
white ball cricket. What have you seen from him that
gives you the confidence he's ready to play Test cricket
again after such a long time away from the red
(02:41):
ball international game.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
Yeah. I think with Kj's obviously had a tough time
you know, probably not necessarily last twelve months, but sort
of the last the previous twelve twenty four months in
terms of you know, injuries coming back and things not
being quite right. But I think the work that he's
put in certainly over the last yeah, twelve and twenty
four months to get himself back on the park. Think
(03:06):
we're obviously seeing he's played a full summer of white
ball cricket, you know, which is which has been great
and it's all building blocks for him to get back
to playing Test cricket, which which he loves and obviously
wants to do again, which is a huge benefit to
New Zealand cricket. So you know, really excited to see
him back in a Test squad and sort of Willow
(03:28):
Rocks a little bit the same and you know, a
similar injury. You played a little bit of white ball
cricket over the last sort of a month or so.
But to see him, to see him charging in the
mets as as really exciting. And again to have both
of those guys play alongside each other, which they haven't
done in Test cricket, is is hugely exciting and they're
(03:50):
really excited to have them both both back in the
group with.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
The heightened bounce that they both provide. Tom, you know,
do you feel as though English conditions will will be
perfectly suited to the way they go about their past bowling. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
I think with those two, I think their ability to
adapt as probably the biggest run I think you look back,
you know when kJ was playing tests Crek. I think
the ability for him to bring the stumps into play,
for a big, tall guy to be able to swing
the ball both ways, and obviously the bounce that they
both get as a huge asset. We know how good England,
(04:24):
how good a side they are, and obviously it's their
first you know series post sashes, you know, which is
obviously going to be an exciting time for them too,
but you know, really excited the I guess the attributes
that both those guys bring sort of balance out our
bowling attack out quite nicely.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
And I made and call up for Dean Foxcroft, who
have seen the white ball stuff. Of course, what was
it about him that that impressed the selectors and yourself
not to suggest that he could he could be a
red ball option for you as well.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
Yeah, I think from a role point of view, you know,
we're sort of one of a like to like, you
know in terms of what and you know what obviously
match brings to the group and it's I guess a
similar role. But we were we were trying to cover
I think, you know, the way he performed in Bangladesh
and you know it was was quite quite impressive. He's
come a long way, certainly over the last twelve add
(05:16):
mus play a little bit of a cricket, you know,
So I think that the ability for him to come
in and keep being himself, you know, keep I guess, learning,
keep striving to be better and learn from the different guys,
and that's certainly what he's done the times that I've
been involved with him, certainly over the last month in Bangladesh.
So yeah, I always exciting when guys get their first
(05:39):
opportunity to be in a test squad, and obviously really
excited Foxy to be in the mix. There.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
You mentioned Mitchell Sander there. His shoulder injury is going
to continue to be monitored as he rehabilitates. How confident
are you that he might play some part later in
the series. Maybe maybe obviously not Ireland, but maybe in
some of the Test matches against England.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
Yeah, definitely confident that he will get back to or
be fit for for available for selection. See it's a
week by week case. Obviously, want to go himself the
the best opportunity to get it right first and foremost,
and hopefully we're presented with the opportunity that he will
be available, whether it be first, second, third Test, well,
(06:20):
they just have to have to wait and see what
that looks like. But never injuries and never ideal timing.
But Y he guttered for much to unfortunately pick up
this little injury over and over and there does.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
It feel as though Tom the that you'll you'll rely
largely on the same attack that that you're spending all
around It might be Glenn Phillips for example.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Yeah, I think if you look over well a long
time now, you know that in terms of the balance
of our squad that we've had not necessarily the last
twelve months, but three, four or five years ago. I
think that's a balance that we've sort of tended to
have in conditions you know, like England, like New Zealand.
(07:02):
I think the strike that I said, the strides that
GP's taken over the last you know, a couple of
years being in that role. From a spin point of view,
you know, he's gone from strength to strength and is
byling someone that certainly leaves no stone Unturnedy works really
hard at that aspect of his game, and also think
some of the knock that he's played from a batting
(07:23):
point of view have been hugely vital in that sort
of middle order for us. And you know, we're very
fortunate that we do have someone like Rush as well,
who does offer us another spin option if conditions do suits. So, yeah,
that's obviously the balance that we've tended to go with
and I'm sure it'll be similar to I guess what
we're facing over in England as well.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
From a batting point of view, what are the biggest
most specific challenges batsman face and English conditions.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
I think, first and foremost, it's obviously a different ball.
I've said the Juke's ball compared compared to a Cookobarra
ball here in New Zealand. You know, it obviously tends
to do a little bit more off the surface, but
you know surfaces over and can be a little bit slower,
and you know the ball tends to I guess move
sideways a little bit off the surface and it can
swing a little bit more. So we're kind of fortunate
(08:16):
that most guys have played in England at some point,
whether it be international, where it be county cricket. So
I guess it's important for guys to to lean back
on those experiences and and tack that. And what's obviously
going to be a really exciting series one that's obviously
been I guess highlighted, you know, a couple of years ago,
and to I guess to finally be here it is
(08:37):
really exciting. I'll see it a Test against Island first,
which is you know, just as exciting for us as well.
But yeah, just I think guys are looking forward to
the opportunity of getting back and to rebel cricket. You know,
it's been a light diet of Test cricket. I'll see
only playing three this summer. But yeah, I've said from
a test point of view, you look at the next
(08:58):
twelve twelve months, you know, it's a I guess it's
a period of cricket that we've never really been exposed
to from a from a test point of view, yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
It must be exciting as you say, I mean Ireland
and England, then India back here and then that four
Test tour of Australia for you know, for someone who
enjoys their red ball cricket as much as you do
and will get obviously the opportunity to lead the side
through this very exciting period. You know how exciting a
prospect is the next twelve months for you.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
It's hugely exciting, I think. Yeah, as I said, it's
probably you know, a time that New Zealand cricket has
never had in terms of the amount of cricket that
we tend to play in a short space of time,
and to have the twelve tests in the space of
a twelve months period, you know, maybe even a little
bit less as massive for us, and especially to be
(09:48):
playing eight over our home summer, you know, when you
get to the back end of this year is really
exciting and we know we're going to need a full
squad you know, throughout those eight test matches at home,
you know, to pick from, and you know, as I said,
it's unique. You know, there's going to be different times,
it's going to be different challenges from you know, bodies
(10:10):
and getting through that amount of cricket. But you know,
we're fortunate we've been able to build up a squad
over the last or twelve twenty four months. You know
that anyone that we do call upon as ready to
go and it had experience in Test cricket.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
Do you get a sense that England will temper the
way they've played Test cricket given their heavy Ashes defeat
or do you still expect the bean Stargs Brendan McCallum
strategy to be a very aggressive one.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
Yeah, it's sort of hard to know. I guess. I
guess you look at their squad as a whole, regardless
of who they pick there's so much talent in England
that I think the ability for them to adapt to
play a style that they want to play, and you
know that they're able to do that because they're also counted.
So I guess whatever they do come with, whether it
(11:00):
be a similar approach or whether it be something slightly different.
For us, it's always about trying to adapt to to
the way that they play, but also focusing as much
as we can on the approach that we want to
take into things, to look into the opposition and what
they might do or what they might not do or
Hudel Perkin, you know who's going to play. But for us,
(11:21):
we know if we play our style and our brands
as best we can, and we know we'll have the
ability to adapt to what's thrown at us, and hopefully
that will give us a good opportunity towards the back
end of Test matches to put ourselves in winning positions
and go from there.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
Very exciting times. Fans of Test cricket have been hanging
out for this period to arrive. It almost has Tom.
Thanks for taking the time for a chat this afternoon.
Travel safe mate, look forward to seeing how you go
over in Ireland. And England and then back here when
the home summer approaches.
Speaker 3 (11:51):
Pert, thank you very much, No, thank you very much.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
Tom, Tom Latham there, red ball captain for New Zealand.
So the Test against Ireland, the one off Test, it's
a four day Test, starts on the twenty seventh of May,
runs through until the thirtieth and Belfast, and then three
Test matches against England at Lord's June four through eight,
at the Oval in London June seventeen to twenty one,
(12:15):
and then to trent Bridge, Nottingham for the Third Test
June twenty five to twenty nine.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk set B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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