Buoyed by the impressive performance in the second warm-up game against Board President’s XI on Thursday (October 19), New Zealand opener Tom Latham has said the visitors had had an ideal preparation ahead of the tough three-match ODI series against India.
New Zealand had lost the first game on Tuesday (October 17) but put up a clinical performance in the second game to beat the home team by 33 runs and warm up for the forthcoming game on a good note. Batting first, the Black Caps rode on centuries from Ross Taylor and Latham to post a daunting 343 for 9 in the allotted 50 overs. In reply, the Board President’s XI lost wickets in a flurry at the start and were reeling at 158 for six before a fine show from the lower-order batsmen helped them to finish their innings on 310.
“Yes, it has obviously been an ideal preparation for us. In the last couple of games we have been put in a little bit of pressure, it was nice for guys to have spent some time in the middle, bowled their overs and obviously we are coming from winter back home and it was nice for the guys to have a couple of hit outs,” Latham told reporters.
Latham has adapted quite well to his new batting position. The left-handed batsman scored 58 in the first warm-up game and followed it up with a brilliant 108 (retired out) in the following game.
Speaking about that, he said:
“Yeah it is obviously a little bit of change from the last couple of years but that is something that we have discussed about moving to that position. It was nice to have spent some time in the middle and get familiar with that role today.”
Latham further said New Zealand is well aware of the spin threat posed by India and said that the visitors would prepare accordingly to deal with the Indian spinners.
“Obviously we will do our scouting. A couple of left-armers and the leggie playing today, that is an ideal preparation. Whatever we need we can get… stuff from the footage and that sort of things. We obviously know that they are quality bowlers and have done really well in the previous series,” he said.
The left-handed batsman also spoke on the hostile conditions of the subcontinent, insisting that the players cannot prepare themselves up for the heat in India.
“I am not sure you can do anything to prepare for this sort of heat. You can be as fit as you can, but it is about getting out there. The first game here (on Tuesday) it was pretty hot and today it was not too bad so that is a temperature thing or we are getting more used to it,” he said. “I guess it is one of those things you cannot prepare for, we have been in these conditions before so we sort of know what it is going to be like.”