Online Reporter
SPIN bowler Mitchell Santner was named New Zealand captain for both white ball formats yesterday, filling a six-month vacancy since teammate Kane Williamson stood down.
Santner, who has played 107 one-day internationals and 106 Twenty20 internationals, will begin his tenure with a three-match home ODI series against Sri Lanka from December 28.
The 32-year-old has previously led New Zealand in 28 white ball matches, some on a stand-in basis after Williamson relinquished the role following the T20 World Cup in June.
Santner described the fulltime appointment as a “huge honour”.
“When you’re a young kid, the dream was always to play for New Zealand, but to have the opportunity to officially lead my country in two formats is special,” he said. It’s a new challenge and I’m excited to get stuck into the important period of white ball cricket that we have ahead of us.”
New Zealand coach Gary Stead said Santner would bring a “calm and collected” approach to leadership, with his appointment allowing test captain Tom Latham to focus on the longer format.
“Tom’s doing a great job as fulltime test captain since taking over in October, and we’re keen to allow him to focus on that job which requires a considerable amount of time and energy,” Stead said.
Santner’s appointment comes a day after he was named player-of-the-match in New Zealand’s 423-run win over England in the third test in Hamilton.
He took seven wickets and hit 76 and 49 with the bat.
Meanwhile, England captain Ben Stokes admitted Tuesday he became “emotional” after suffering another injury setback during the third test defeat to New Zealand, but he would not be reducing his bowling workload.
Stokes is still to learn the severity of the “incredibly disappointing” hamstring injury recurrence which forced him from the field mid-spell on Monday’s third day in Hamilton.
He suffered the same affliction while bowling in August, sidelining him from four tests during a two-month recovery.
Stokes did not bat in England’s second innings, with the risk of further damage not deemed worth it as the tourists crashed to 234 all out and a 423-run defeat.
The England talisman admitted he reacted negatively immediately after the injury as he contemplated another lengthy rehabilitation period, having also battled back from knee surgery earlier this year. — Reuters.
