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.

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