Guptill and Patel in; Latham in doubt
WELLINGTON: Horribly out of form and struggling with a new role, Tom Latham may find his place in the New Zealand oneday international squad is under threat following the return from injury of opener Martin Guptill.
Guptill and veteran spinner Jeetan Patel have been added to New Zealand’s squad for the fourth game in Hamilton on Wednesday, following the 159run clobbering in Wellington that handed the Proteas a 21 series lead.
Patel replaces unused seamer Matt Henry, the inclusion of a third spinner reflecting the like lihood slow bowlers will play a big part at Seddon Park, as they did in the opening game last week.
It was always thought a fit again Guptill (hamstring) would replace standin opener Dean Brownlie.
However, Brownlie is retained in an expanded squad, putting the heat on Latham, whose form has nosedived since he was handed a wicketkeeping role in ODIs.
A duck kickstarted New Zealand’s capitulation for 112 at Westpac Stadium on Saturday and means Latham has scored 13 runs in his past six ODIs.
Coach Mike Hesson confirmed specialist wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi would play in Hamilton but said that did not mean Latham would be dropped, nor that the makeshift role with the gloves would not be tried again.
He also quashed a suggestion Latham would make way to allow him to prepare for the test series beginning on March 8.
‘‘I don’t think anything’s more important than anything else. The ODI series is hugely important for us,’’ Hesson said.
‘‘But there’s no doubt Tom’s struggled the last little while. He’s come off a series in India where he was our best player and he’s certainly come home and hasn’t reached those heights here.’’
Hesson said several options were being considered to address the poor batting display in Wellington, including a shift up the order for Ronchi.
Captain Kane Williamson felt for his opener’s plight.
‘‘Tom works very hard, like all of us, and has perhaps been a little unlucky with some of his dismissals and found some fielders.’’
Williamson said his team must put its embarrassing defeat — its biggest by runs against South Africa — behind it quickly.
He does not expect to encounter the same seamfriendly conditions that were exploited superbly by the visitors.
‘‘In saying that, as a batting unit we want to be much better in terms of sucking up that pressure,’’ Williamson said. — NZN