New Zealand vs South Africa, 2nd Test: Tom Latham says beaten Kiwis can still defend World Test Championship

New Zealand stand-in skipper Tom Latham has not written off his team's chances of claiming back-to-back World Test Championships (WTC) despite defeat in the second Test to South Africa leaving the Black Caps' defence on shaky ground. Held to 1-1 home series draws by South Africa and Bangladesh after losing 1-0 away to India in late-2021, New Zealand are languishing at sixth on the WTC table ahead of a tour to England. Latham said his team believed "100%" they could still make next year's WTC final and would look to sweep England in the three-Test series starting in June. "Obviously we set out with with the ambitions of winning every Test match you play, especially at home," he told reporters after the 198-run loss to the Proteas at Hagley Oval. . "For us, I guess, when we get to England in a few months' time, it's obviously important that we shift our focus to that and try our best to win that series over there and get as many points as we can."

Read AlsoNZ vs SA 2nd Test: South Africa beat New Zealand by 198 runs, draw series

South Africa outwitted and outplayed New Zealand in a crushing 198-run second Test victory in Christchurch on Tuesday to draw the two-match series 1-1. New Zealand, set a record 426 target to win, were all out in their second innings for 227 eight balls after tea on the final day. It was a

Having handed South Africa their second-worst Test defeat in the first Christchurch clash, New Zealand missed a golden opportunity to win their first Test series against the South Africans and end a winless streak dating back to 1931/32. The Black Caps will hope regular captain Kane Williamson, their best batsman, can fully recover from the elbow injury that has plagued him for over a year. Latham, whose opening