New Zealand will head into the second Test against Zimbabwe without their regular skipper Tom Latham, who has failed to recover from a shoulder injury sustained ahead of the series opener.

The match, set to begin Thursday, August 7 in Bulawayo, will once again see Mitchell Santner take charge of the Black Caps. Santner led the side in the first Test, where New Zealand cruised to a dominant nine-wicket victory over The Chevrons.

Latham had been undergoing rehabilitation for his left shoulder but was unable to pass final fitness checks. Head coach Rob Walter expressed disappointment over the setback:

“Tom’s been putting in the work and was close to making it, but unfortunately he didn’t clear the fitness tests today. It’s a tough blow for him and for the team.”

In addition to Latham, New Zealand will also be missing fast bowler Will O’Rourke and all-rounder Nathan Smith, both sidelined due to injuries sustained after the first Test.

To bolster the squad, uncapped batter Bevon Jacobs has been called up as a late addition for fielding and batting support. Jacobs recently made his T20I debut during the tri-series involving South Africa and Zimbabwe.

“With Tom ruled out so close to the match, we needed quick cover. Bevon was already nearby in Johannesburg, so it worked out well,” Walter explained.

New Zealand will look to seal the series with another strong performance in Bulawayo.