I find playing sweep shot easy: Latham

When Tom Latham visited India last time around in mid-2016, he was one of New Zealand’s consistent batsmen across Tests and ODIs. In 11 innings he had scored 438 runs with five half-centuries. Sweep was one of his most productive shots and the left-hander used it with bigger impact in the first ODI in Mumbai on Wednesday as the Kiwis registered an unexpected six-wicket win.

Obviously, he has put in a lot of preparations to prefect the stroke as playing spin doesn’t come to them as naturally as it does to an Indian batsman. This is what Ross Taylor averred to after the first match, saying that sweep was their best weapon in the absence of footwork needed to tackle spin bowling. Latham admitted it was important to have a game-plan for spin.   

“Everybody is different in the way they play spin in different conditions,” said Latham here on Tuesday, ahead of Wednesday’s second ODI. “I think the Indians play in a different way, they are used to these conditions and they have got their game. One thing that comes to me is sweep that I have played throughout my career. It’s something that I find easier to play than hitting down the ground. The other guys may find hitting down the ground easier. It’s important to have different game plans for different conditions and try and stick to that,” he explained when asked about reliance on sweep.

New Zealand had a lengthy break after the Champions Trophy, a period that they used not only to get into better shape but to polish their game in order to make quick adjustments to the conditions.

“A lot of work has been put behind the scenes, for the guys it’s been tough because we usually don’t step out back home because of winter.”