'Tom Latham is the perfect all-conditions opener' - Daniel Vettori showers praise on NZ batter for his ability to adapt

Tom Latham played a superb knock for the New Zealand side in the first innings of the 1st Test match between India and New Zealand. The opening batter scored 95 off 282 deliveries and helped the Kiwis post a total of 296 on the board.

And now, former New Zealand bowling legend Daniel Vettori has showered praises on Latham. Vettori said that Latham is the perfect all-conditions opener and added that Latham has the ability to play spin extremely well.

Vettori is also particularly impressed with the way the Kiwi opener has got a lot of success by employing the sweep shot against the Indian spinners and hailed Latham’s ability to adapt.

“I think he is the perfect all conditions opener. In New Zealand you have to deal with the swinging ball, and you grow up on that. When we go to the subcontinent, we do not have that many openers who have the ability to adapt their game.

Tom Latham almost from the start has the ability to play spin and first came to India as a white ball player and batted in the middle order. He had success taking on the spinners with the sweep shot,” said Vettori in a chat with ESPNCricinfo.

Tom Latham is one of the greatest New Zealand openers ever: Daniel Vettori

Daniel Vettori also added that Tom Latham is not afraid to use his feet against the spinners and is always busy out in the middle. Adding that Latham has the ability to control the tempo of the innings, Vettori concluded by stating that Latham is one of the greatest openers to have played for the New Zealand side.

“Once again, he was prepared to use his feet and sweep and he puts pressure on the bowlers. It is his business that helps him to stay in control and good batsmen are batsmen who control the tempo of the game. He is probably one of our greatest openers ever,” concluded Daniel Vettori.