Latham looks to carry forward NZ's legacy

CANTERBURY has had an indelible link to New Zealand cricket. Some of the country's most famous cricketing sons and daughters have played their cricket there, including the likes of Richard Hadlee, Stephen Fleming, Debbie Hockley, Amy Satterthwaite and Nathan Astle.

- SWAROOP SWAMINATHAN

Before the likes of Fleming and Astle, there was Rod Latham, who played 33 ODIs and four Tests for the Black Caps.

More than 30 years after Rod made his debut for New Zealand, his son, Tom, will walk out to lead his country in whites for the first time on a permanent basis. Tom is no stranger to the hot seat having already led in nine Tests as a stand-in skipper. During a press conference before leaving for India, the opener said he would be 'leaning on those experiences'.

But what kind of a person and leader is he? “In the relatively short time that I have known Tom,” says Canterbury CEO Jeremy Curwin, “he has always been a leader, both by what he says and how he conducts himself. He is humble, works very hard and has the respect of everyone.”