NEW CANTERBURY CRICKETERS Gifted Latham earns his spurs early

Press, 24 December 1980, Page 14

NEW CANTERBURY CRICKETERS Gifted Latham earns his spurs early

By

KEVIN McMENAMIN

Rod Latham is a young man who excels in two sports. This, in itself, is not so unusual, but what makes Latham stand out from others similarly gifted is the speed with which he has risen to the top in both, more especially as the sports concerned are as different, and as demanding, as rugby and cricket.

In the next few days, Latham is almost certain to make his cricket debut for Canterbury — he is in the touring party of 12 for Canterbury’s opening Shell series matches against Auckland and Northern Districts.

Already this year. Lath; am has played rugby for Canterbury and once the double has been completed he will join some illustrious forerunners, men like Charlie Oliver, “Curly” Page, Albie Roberts and Walter Hadlee. Pit has become increasingly rare in recent times for sportsmen, however talented, to survive, for long' in both these two major < sports.' The last man to play rugby and cricket for Canterbury in the, same year was Barry Dipeen and that was back in 1956, • •

At 19, and he will not turn 20 until June, Latham can look back on a sporting career that is quite mind-boggling. He has to put if simply, done just

about everything in both cricket and rugby that anybody could hope for. In rugby, the highpoints have been selection for New Zealand schoolboys, the South Island, at both under-16 and under-18 levels, and Canterbury through the grades to senior A.

He has also been a New Zealand schoolboy cricketer, for three years, played, for Canterbury under-age teams, beginning at under--14, as well as having represented the province at Brabin and Rothmans tournaments.

In junior cricket, Latham has been a prolific run-getter, he. can recall eight centuries 'in games of above ordinary interschool level and four of these remarkably, came in the space of one week near the end of last year. The first, three — 113, 107 not out. and 105 not out — were*; scored at a South ■■ Island secondary schools’ tournament, and the fourth,-a 109, was at the Rothmans, tournament in Wellington. ‘ Latham could easily be believed When he says that at the end of' that- week he was "a shade tired.” ’ -

Last winter,. Latham silenced more * than a few rugby critics who felt that first year opt ! of school wai too sodnfor the firstclass arena. In- fact,: Latham had a very good first

season and was, perhaps, a little unfortunate not to get more than seven games. . '

He lost his place at first five-eighths after six games when the All Black, Wayne Smith, recovered from .injury and despite the opposition he faces from Smith, Latham plans to continue in this position. He does not subscribe to the view, which some people have, that he might have a brighter future as a full-back. Latham now has a fresh batch of critics to silence: those who feel that he has

not done enough in senior cricket this summer to warrant Canterbury selection, although a 49 last Saturday, his best score of the season, was a step in the right direction. Latham, himself, is inclined to agree .with them and he confesses to being more surprised at his' Canterbury cricket .selection than he was when first .named for Canterbury at rugby. “But I am in the team and that means someone must think I can make ‘ runs in Shell cricket. I would very much like to prove this person right,” said Latham, a softly spo.--ken young man who earns

his living as an officer of the Canterbury Savings Bank. Latham scored well for Lancaster Park when he came into senior cricket half-way through last season, but until Saturday, the runs had not been coming as readily this summer.

He acknowledges . that he has not been staying long enough at the wicket to build good innings. “I have had a lot of 20s and while lack of concentration might be a factor I do feel that the bowlers have come to know me

better and have figured out ways to get me out.” Even in the more tense atmosphere of Shell cricket, it is unlikely that Latham will change his attitude to batting. He likes to hit the ball and hit it hard, and, perhaps, his greatest asset is a quick eye. He likes to bat at either No. 4 or No. 5 and prefers medium-paced bowling. fiver ■ ■ since Latham started to emerge as a footballer and cricketer of exceptional abilities, the question has been asked as to which sport would take precedence, the assumption being that it is

just about impossible for a player to concentrate on both these days. Latham, himself, has still to rate one ahead of the other and he seems quietly confident that he can, at least in the foreseeable future, give equal time to both. “If I had to decide on one it would be a very difficult choice,” he said.

Good as Latham .undoubtedly is at rugby there are some competent judges who believe that he has the potential to go further in cricket. It is this potential that Canterbury cricket followers will be hoping to see surface this summer and, if so. then the province could have a new champion batsman.

But while it is important to Latham personally, and to Canterbury, how he performs in the Shell series, the fact should not be lost sight of that he is already a remarkable young sportsman.

It is enough for the moment that he is a Canterbury senior rugbv and cricket representative at the tender age of 19. His future is one of exciting possibilities, be it in rugby or in cricket and, who knows, he might even prove a lot of people wrong and carve 'for himself a career at the top in both sports.