Tom Latham suffers 30-year curse for New Zealand as he misses ton against India in Kanpur Test

Tom Latham, who had managed to overturn his dismissal three times thanks to the DRS on day 2, was finally stumped by KS Bharat off Axar Patel for 95 as India dominated in Kanpur.

Tom Latham was stumped for 95 by KS Bharat off Axar Patel in Kanpur. (Image credit: Twitter)
By Siddharth vishwanathan | Nov 27, 2021 | 3 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

Tom Latham was playing one of his best innings in his career so far. On a rough wicket in Kanpur, against the spin trio of R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel, Latham was gritting it out admirably. On day 2, he and Will Young showed the intent that had made New Zealand the ICC World Test Championships. Latham was in a zone where he calmly negotiated the spinners and pounced on anything loose dished out by the pacers. But, on day 3, with the pitch deteriorating further, Latham raised his discipline to another level.

Ashwin, who is known to be potent against left-handers, was negotiated brilliantly by Latham despite a few near misses. The opening partnership of 151 was broken by Ashwin as he sent back Will Young. Just before the lunch break, India managed a key scalp of skipper Kane Williamson for 18. After the break, the Indian spinners raised their game. Axar Patel was the star with three wickets as the middle order fumbled.

Tom Latham was nearing a century and it would have been a just reward. On day 2, Latham managed to get three dismissals overturned thanks to the DRS. India missed a chance to review his LBW on day 3.

The tragedy of Tom Latham

However, on 95, Latham lost his composure. The left-hander, who had been using his feet brilliantly to the spinners, once again used it to play a shot. However, Axar Patel saw it and dragged the short, flat delivery wide outside off. The ball bounced a bit extra and hit Latham on the glove. It rolled to KS Bharat who had him stumped. It was a tragic way for Latham to go and he was a victim of a 30-year curse for New Zealand.

Latham became only the second New Zealand player in history to be stumped in the 90s. In 1992, during the Wellington Test against England, John Wright was agonizingly stumped for 99. In addition, Latham also became only the third batsman in the history of Test cricket to be stumped by a substitute keeper.

KS Bharat was keeping wickets as Wriddhiman Saha suffered a neck strain and could not take the field. Latham joins Pervez Sajjad and Tip Snooke as the other players to have been stumped by a substitute keeper. Sajjad was stumped in the Lahore Test in 1965 by Bevan Congdon. Snooke, on the other hand, by Neville Tufnell in the Durban Test of 1910.

India make big inroads into New Zealand

The second session on day 3 clearly belonged to India as they chipped away on a regular basis. Ravindra Jadeja got his first wicket of the Test when he bowled debutant Rachin Ravindra for 13. Earlier, it was Axar who wrought havoc on New Zealand. Ross Taylor was sent back for 11 while Henry Nicholls fell to Axar for 2. Tom Blundell and Kyle Jamieson are the last of the recognized batsmen in the team, with even Tim Southee capable of the long handle.

New Zealand has never won a Test at Kanpur and with India on the cusp of taking a big lead, their chances have dimmed. The last time New Zealand won a Test in India was way back in 1988. At that time, Kane Williamson was not even born. New Zealand has never won a Test series in India and this session might have prolonged their agony in the country.