New Zealand captain Tom Latham backs Ben Stokes amid England’s bitter row with cricket chiefs – after both sides were docked three points in the World Test Championship table
New Zealand captain Tom Latham has come out in support of Ben Stokes, and suggested the ICC’s over-rate policy should be reviewed to make allowances for teams whose bowling line-ups are dominated by seam.
Both sides were docked three points in the World Test Championship after the series opener in Christchurch, damaging New Zealand’s prospects of reaching next summer’s final at Lord’s.
England were already out of contention, but Stokes revealed on Wednesday that he no longer signed his post-match over-rate documents because the ICC had failed to respond to concerns he raised during the 2023 Ashes.
And Latham – whose attack, like England’s, is seam-heavy – agreed that the mandatory rate of 15 overs an hour should be looked at.
‘It’s certainly a challenge to get through those 15 overs an hour if the ball is flying to the boundary a little bit more than usual,’ he said. ‘We’ve seen in the subcontinent, where a lot of spin is used, that it isn’t necessarily an issue.
‘We know from our point of view we’ve got to be better. We’ll certainly be trying our best throughout the Wellington Test.
Ben Stokes has been backed by New Zealand captain Tom Latham amid England’s bitter ICC row
Both Latham (above) and England captain Stokes saw their sides docked three points in the World Test Championship table for slow over rates during the first Test in Christchurch last week
Stokes’ England triumphed in the first Test of three in New Zealand, winning by eight wickets
‘But maybe it’s something that does need to be reviewed, because we certainly try our best, and no team wants to be behind on the over-rate. It certainly is a challenge and it might need to be reviewed.’
Stokes, meanwhile, was asked whether the ICC had got in touch after his comments. The answer was no.
