New Zealand's Tom Latham on their clash with fierce rivals Australia at the Cricket World Cup
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00:00 Tom, it's been five days since you've last played an international game of cricket.
00:06 Any thoughts on what's an ideal gap that you should have between ODIs and especially in
00:11 the World Cup like this?
00:13 I guess there's no perfect scenario.
00:15 I think if you look at our games throughout this tournament, we've had some shorter breaks,
00:19 we've had some slightly bigger gaps.
00:21 But I guess when you come to the middle of the tournament or towards the back end of
00:25 the tournament, I think it's making sure guys are fresh and ready to go and sometimes those
00:29 longer breaks can come at a perfect time.
00:31 So I guess that's something that's out of our control.
00:35 Ideally a few more than a couple of days.
00:37 But yeah, we're ready to go.
00:39 We've obviously had a few days here.
00:42 Staying here, which has been great.
00:43 And yeah, boys, we're looking forward to getting going tomorrow.
00:46 Awesome.
00:47 And just the day game starting at 10.30 in the morning, does it kind of nullify the advantage
00:53 of a toss because it takes you out of the equation?
00:55 And does it change your planning, strategizing in any way?
00:59 I guess a little bit.
01:00 I think if we look at the other night, it probably didn't do up as much as we potentially
01:05 thought.
01:06 And we've probably seen that in a couple of our games where we're expecting Jude to come
01:09 in and it didn't actually hit as much as what we would have thought.
01:12 So for us, it's about trying to plan as best we can and prepare as best we can and prepare
01:18 for all scenarios in the morning if it does a little bit or in the evening if it does
01:23 start to spin a little bit more.
01:24 So for us, it's just being prepared for every situation.
01:28 Last one from me.
01:29 We saw that the team visited His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, at his residence.
01:34 Can you talk to us a bit about that visit and whether there were any field placings
01:37 discussed with him?
01:38 No, certainly no field placements.
01:41 But yeah, it was obviously a cool experience for the group to head up there and obviously
01:46 meet the Dalai Lama.
01:47 And I guess in the situation where we had a few days off and the opportunity being so
01:52 close, it obviously came up.
01:54 And it was obviously a really special time heading up there and having a look around
01:58 the monastery and whatnot.
01:59 So yeah, I think everyone that went will obviously look back in, I'm sure, years to come and
02:04 think it was obviously an amazing experience.
02:09 Tom, so much of history associated with Australia and New Zealand games, especially at World
02:15 Cups, so many classic games.
02:18 Your thoughts ahead of this game, you know, special occasion to meet Australia every time
02:22 at a World Cup?
02:23 Yeah, I think any time we play Australia, it's obviously the Trans-Tasman rivalry,
02:29 which is really special.
02:30 And I think that's not just cricket, it's obviously for all sports.
02:35 And even in a World Cup, and over here in India, obviously a long way from home, it's
02:39 another special occasion.
02:41 So I'm sure both teams will be really excited to get into things.
02:44 And we played them last year, but we haven't played them for a while since then.
02:49 So again, making sure we plan and prepare as best we can.
02:54 And if we do that, then hopefully we'll give ourselves a good chance of backing into the
02:56 game.
02:57 Just one more thing, Mark.
02:59 Hi, Tom.
03:00 So a couple of the fans who visited the previous game from Wellington, so we spoke to them
03:05 and they were kind of like, you know, even though Australia haven't started off well,
03:09 they can see them coming behind their back.
03:10 And now, you know, both the teams find themselves just a position away from each other.
03:14 How do you see, you know, this team sort of coming back into the tournament, Australia?
03:18 Of course, they're coming on the back of a big win in Delhi.
03:21 Yeah, they're obviously playing some fantastic cricket at the moment.
03:23 As you said, you know, they didn't probably start as well as they would have liked.
03:26 But I think the form they've shown in probably the last three games is, you know, that's
03:31 obviously the Australia that we know.
03:32 You know, they obviously fight, you know, till the end pretty much every time.
03:36 And I guess every time we play each other, it's always a challenge.
03:40 And I guess their equality side, they're one of the best sides in the world for a reason.
03:44 And you certainly can't take them lightly.
03:46 So I think we've shown throughout this tournament that we've seen plenty of teams that, you
03:50 know, on their given day can beat anyone.
03:53 So and Australia are no different.
03:55 So, you know, we're expecting them to be at their best.
03:59 And hopefully we can play as well, play well as well.
04:02 And hopefully be a great game.
04:05 So continuing to this, that Australia already gained momentum of victory last time.
04:12 So you have already experienced this ground and it is very new for Australia.
04:21 Do you have any change in strategy?
04:23 No, I don't think so.
04:27 Obviously, it's a day game.
04:28 So that obviously, whether that changes things or not from a conditions point of view, that's
04:34 probably the only difference.
04:35 But I think playing here obviously gives you a little bit of an advantage.
04:39 Obviously, understanding conditions a little bit more and what the surface potentially
04:42 may be like.
04:43 It's obviously hard to know what that will be until you get into the game.
04:47 So for us, as I've said, being prepared and trying to adapt as best you can is sort of
04:53 what we've been about this tournament.
04:55 And I feel like we've done that reasonably well, you know, pretty quickly has been able
04:58 to adapt to each surface.
04:59 So again, tomorrow is another opportunity for us to try to stand up and do that as quick
05:04 as we can.
05:05 And if we can do that well, quickly enough, then hopefully that will put us on the front
05:09 foot.
05:10 I just wanted to ask you about Mitch Santner.
05:15 Like for those who don't watch New Zealand that much, they kind of might have been surprised
05:19 by how well he's gone at this World Cup.
05:21 I mean, have you guys been surprised by how effective he is?
05:24 And kind of given Australia struggled a bit against left arm spin at different points,
05:29 how important is he tomorrow?
05:30 Yeah, we certainly haven't been surprised at all.
05:33 We've seen the work that he's put in day in, day out.
05:35 And I think the performances that he's had in the one day game, but also in the T20 game,
05:40 he's had many experiences over here in the IPL for a few years now.
05:45 So we understand, I guess, what he brings.
05:47 And obviously conditions back home obviously don't suit spin as much.
05:52 And I guess seeing him come here and apply his skill and do what he's pretty much done
05:57 for us for a long period of time.
05:58 And I guess it's nice for him to get a few rewards for, I guess, the hard work that he's
06:02 put in.
06:03 So he's obviously been a value member of the side for a long time.
06:07 And I guess he's able to bowl in every situation, whether that be at the top, in the first 10,
06:12 through the middle, and obviously at the back end.
06:14 So he's very adaptable for us, which is great.
06:18 And I guess someone that can spin the ball on pretty much any surface is really, I guess,
06:23 vital when it is turning.
06:25 He can obviously get plenty of turn, which is great.
06:29 So again, another great opportunity for him tomorrow.
06:31 And hopefully he can stand up again.
06:33 Hey, Tom.
06:34 Other than Kane, is everyone available for selection tomorrow?
06:40 And are you expecting to make any changes?
06:41 Yeah, obviously Kane's still a work in progress with his thumb.
06:45 But we'll obviously have a quick look at the surface to that training at some point, and
06:50 then obviously make a decision on what the XI looks like.
06:53 Hey, Tom.
06:55 Just in a long tournament like this, when you're playing every team once, do you kind
07:00 of keep one eye on what, say, in Australia or the bigger teams are doing?
07:05 Or do you just get to it, like, you know, when maybe you would have just started your
07:08 analysis and all of that just three days in?
07:12 Because I'm guessing it's also not possible to watch everything that happens.
07:15 Yeah, I think you obviously-- well, for me, I watch certainly every game.
07:20 You know, it's on the TV.
07:22 But yeah, I think you obviously see the games that are going on, and you see some of the
07:26 performances that have been put on the park.
07:29 And I think for us, we've just been trying to take each game at a time.
07:33 It's probably been our biggest thing.
07:34 You know, every game's worth two points.
07:36 So every game's just as important as the next.
07:39 And you know, once we do come up against a team, we obviously go through our same, I
07:43 guess, preparation that we usually do in terms of scouting and, I guess, understanding how
07:48 teams are going and what they're going to bring to the table.
07:51 So again, Australia's been no different.
07:54 We've seen them obviously perform well in the last couple of games.
07:57 So just understanding how they're going to operate, and hopefully we can counteract that
08:02 as best we can.
08:03 And just about your own batting position, Tom, you've batted at 4-5 for quite a few
08:07 years in one-day cricket.
08:09 But has it changed in the last 18 months, you know, with the field changes?
08:13 And you see different kinds of batters being used, like disruptors that even Australia
08:18 brought in Josh Singlis for Alex Carey.
08:19 So has that changed your role much at all, or even how you go about it?
08:24 Yeah, I don't think so.
08:25 Not from a middle-order point of view.
08:27 I think batting in the middle order, you know, for me it's about trying to be adaptable as
08:31 much as you can.
08:32 You know, you could be in it 30 for 3, or you could be in it 200 for 3.
08:37 So you've kind of got to adapt the way that you play, you know, as best you can.
08:41 And I guess that's something about the middle order, you just don't know what situation
08:44 you're going to be in.
08:45 So, you know, I guess trying to plan for all situations and just trying to read the way
08:50 you need to play in that situation, whether you're batting with someone that's, I guess,
08:54 a set batter or whether there's two new guys.
08:58 So I was just trying to gauge that as best you can and understand your blueprint as a
09:01 team, how you guys want to operate.
09:03 So yeah, we've obviously seen throughout this tournament guys in the middle order have been
09:07 obviously getting on with it.
09:09 But I think that's sort of the situation that they've been in has allowed them to do that.
09:14 So yeah, I guess just, as I said, just trying to be adaptable as best you can is probably
09:19 the most important thing for me.
09:22 New Zealand always playing with no way and they have, I think, more patience while they
09:33 have pressure.
09:34 They are playing very well.
09:35 But, you know, this Australia is also a strong team and they are playing with aggression.
09:39 What is your strategy about next match?
09:42 Yeah, obviously, every team, you know, poses different threats, you know, throughout, you
09:49 know, throughout a one day game.
09:51 Obviously, some teams come slightly harder, some teams play it slightly differently.
09:55 So for us, it's just about reading what's in front of us and trying to play that accordingly.
09:59 You know, on the other hand, we have the way that we want to operate as best we can towards
10:04 our plan of a game, whether that be with a bat or ball.
10:08 So trying to be clear on how we want to operate has been the biggest thing for us this tournament.
10:14 And if we're able to do that, then hopefully that will give ourselves a good chance, I
10:18 guess, at the back end of the game.
10:20 You know, if we look back to our last game, you know, we did a lot of things right.
10:23 You know, obviously, we didn't quite come out on the right side, but, you know, we took
10:27 a lot of positives from that game.
10:28 So if we're able to perform in the same way, you know, then I'm sure we'll give ourselves
10:33 a good chance being in those situations.
10:39 Tom since you said that you watch every game, I'm going to ask you one last question.
10:43 I wouldn't say every ball.
10:46 Are you surprised at the way this tournament's gone?
10:48 I mean, you and India are the only two teams who've maintained kind of the same level at
10:52 which you're playing.
10:54 The other teams have had good days, have had bad days.
10:57 Does that surprise you at all at the difference in the win and loss margins kind of situation
11:02 in this tournament?
11:03 Yeah, I guess it just shows that anyone can beat anyone on their day.
11:08 You know, you've got to turn up on that specific day and put out a good performance.
11:12 We've obviously seen a few upsets throughout this tournament.
11:16 And I guess that just shows you can't take anything for granted.
11:18 I just said earlier that every game is worth two points.
11:22 So every game is just as important as the next.
11:24 So yeah, I think just making sure you're able to prepare and plan as best you can, you know,
11:30 for every game is vitally important.
11:32 So whether that be at the start of the tournament, in the middle, at the back end, for us it
11:37 doesn't change.
11:38 We're taking every game, you know, just like, you know, every game.
11:42 So yeah, I guess it's going to be an interesting couple of weeks to see how things pan out.