Mitchell Santner Takes the Helm as New Zealand’s New White-Ball Captain

New Delhi, Dec 18 (NationPress) Mitchell Santner, a left-arm spin all-rounder, has been named New Zealand’s new captain for white-ball formats. He will replace Kane Williamson, who stepped away from the leadership role following New Zealand’s group-stage elimination from the Men’s T20 World Cup in June.

Santner has prior experience leading New Zealand in 24 T20 internationals and four One Day Internationals (ODIs). His full-time captaincy will commence with the upcoming T20I and ODI series against Sri Lanka, starting with the first match in the T20 format at Bay Oval on December 28. Following this, New Zealand will participate in an ODI tri-series in Pakistan in February, ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy and a home series of T20Is and ODIs against the same opponents.

“It’s a tremendous honor and privilege to be asked to lead. As a child, the dream was always to represent New Zealand, but to officially take charge of my country in two formats is truly special. This is a new challenge, and I’m eager to engage in the crucial period of white-ball cricket that lies ahead,” Santner expressed.

“We are witnessing a transition with some experienced players nearing the end of their careers. This offers an exciting opportunity for the younger players to embrace the challenge and drive our team towards greater success,” he added in a statement from New Zealand Cricket (NZC) on Wednesday.

Head coach Gary Stead remarked that Santner is an excellent fit for the captaincy, keeping in mind the need to manage Tom Latham, the Test captain's workload. “Mitch is a remarkable team player who leads by example in every aspect of the game. His calm demeanor and immense respect among teammates will serve him well,” Stead noted.

“Having led the T20 side and performed admirably during his recent stint as ODI captain, he possesses a solid understanding of leadership. I am confident that Mitch will bring his unique ideas and leadership style to the role,” he added.

“With Tom Latham at the helm as a capable and experienced captain across all formats, he has been doing a commendable job as the full-time Test captain since his appointment in October. We want to ensure he can focus on that demanding role,” Stead concluded.