It is important to have game plans for different conditions: Tom Latham

New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman Tom Latham believes that it is always important to have different game plans in Indian conditions. The left-hander has been racking up the runs since landing in the country and has scored a half-century to go with a century in a couple of warm-up games. He continued in the same form in the first ODI in Mumbai and smashed an aggressive century and most importantly countered the spin challenge with utter ease.

The Kiwis led by Kane Williamson are leading the 3-match ODI series by 1-0 thanks to the 200 run stand between Latham and Ross Taylor. They chased down the highest total ever at Wankhede in the ODI on Sunday. The move to demote Latham in the batting order worked wonders for them as it reaped instant rewards. Also, Colin Munro looked comfortable at the top of the order and suddenly they have a great chance now to seal the series in Pune on Wednesday.

I have played sweep shot throughout my career

Tom Latham addressed the media on the eve of the second One-Day International of the series at MCA Stadium in Pune and revealed the way he successfully countered the spin twin of the Men in Blue. “Everybody is different in the way they play spin in different conditions. I think the Indians play the 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,” he said.

“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. I am not too sure (about the secret to success). We had a lot of preparation back home, coming out of the winter, when we come to India, it is obviously massive focus on spin and we lucky enough to be here last year, so we knew a little bit how India played and watching them against the Australian team, so lot of work in terms of spin and playing in the middle,” Latham added.

The southpaw also cleared that he had worked hard back home on relatively drier pitches which are conducive to spin and also was happy that Ross Taylor was with him in the middle during the match-winning stand. “I put little bit of work in terms of coming over here and playing spin. On surfaces back home they were a little bit drier and quite responsive to spin. So, that was (a part) of the preparation,” he continued.

“It was obviously pleasing to make a contribution and be there till the end (in Mumbai). The partnership which me and Ross (Taylor) put on was vital for that and Ross played very well and deserves credit. It was nice to keep the communication lines going. We have got one more game starting tomorrow, and if we play some good cricket then hopefully we would give us a chance of winning the series,” the 25-year-old said.

He was also happy to move down the order after opening the innings for the major part of his career. “No, not really (not difficult to adapt to the batting order). It was nice to have those two warm-up games beforehand; and contribute in those games and start against spin. I have played in that position (No. 5) before when I started playing for New Zealand. So, it’s not a position which is unfamiliar to me. It was more of a tactical shift than anything. Coming in the middle when the ball is little bit softer and playing a bit more spin. It is nice that I adapted quickly,” Tom Latham concluded.