Tom Latham: The fourth T20I match between New Zealand and South Africa is on 22 March. But before the match to be played in Wellington, the news is not good for the New Zealand team. Because one of its star players has been dropped from the team of the fourth T20.

The reason for that player's exclusion is also related to the same third match of the T20 series, in which by showing the power of his bat, he gave the Kiwi team a 2-1 lead. We are talking about New Zealand opener and wicketkeeper Tom Latham.

Tom Latham out of fourth T20

Tom Latham is not playing the fourth T20 match against South Africa. In his place, New Zealand has included wicketkeeper batsman Tom Blundell in the team. We will talk about the difference between the T20 records of these two players, but before that let us know the reason for Tom Latham's exclusion from the fourth T20.

Why was Tom Latham out?

Tom Latham, son of former New Zealand all-rounder Rod Latham, had to be ruled out of the fourth T20 because he suffered a thumb injury. Tom Latham got injured during the third T20. In the match played at Eden Park, his thumb was badly affected by the ball of South African fast bowler Mokoena, due to which he had to be ruled out of the fourth T20.

Tom Latham in T20 series

Tom Latham was the hero of New Zealand's victory with the bat in the third T20. In that victory which was achieved by 8 wickets in 22 balls, he scored unbeaten 63 runs on 55 balls while chasing the target of 137 runs.

He is also the second highest run scorer in the first 3 matches of the 5-match T20 series. Tom Latham has played 29 matches so far in his T20I career, in which he has scored 597 runs. That means, he is just 3 steps away from the figure of 600 runs.

This player took Latham's place

In place of Tom Latham, New Zealand has selected Tom Blundell in the team for the fourth T20, who is also a wicketkeeper batsman. Blundell has experience of 9 T20Is, in which he has scored 91 runs. That is, if he plays in the fourth T20I, then after scoring 9 more runs, he will complete 100 runs of his T20I career.