New Zealand will lose their regular skipper Tom Latham during the first Test against Zimbabwe, which begins on July 30. The Kiwis have traveled to Zimbabwe for a two-test series, but Latham won't be available for the first match because of a shoulder injury. The news was announced by New Zealand Cricket on social media, where they informed fans about the 33-year-old's unavailability. The board also announced that Mitchell Santner will be leading as the stand-in captain, becoming the 32nd player to lead New Zealand in Test cricket. The team has not announced any replacement for Latham. Squad News | Test captain Tom Latham has been ruled out of the first Test against Zimbabwe with a shoulder injury.In Latham's absence, white-ball captain Mitch Santner will lead the team, becoming New Zealand's 32nd men’s Test captain. Full story | https://t.co/GDMAcfofdk… pic.twitter.com/GLmwlommYJ — BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) July 29, 2025 Also Read | 261 IPL 2025 Jerseys Worth 6.5 Lakh Stolen from BCCI Office in Mumbai Latham Injured During T20 Blast 2025 Latham acquired the injury while representing Warwickshire in the T20 Blast 2025, where he injured his shoulder while fielding. Regarding Latham's unavailability, Rob Walter stated: "It’s hugely disappointing for Tom to be missing the first Test, as captain but also as an integral part of the team. It’s never great when you lose your captain, who’s a world-class opening batter and a great team man, but that said, we’re going to work really hard to have him available for the second Test." Also Read | Gambhir Argues with Oval Curator Before Final Test Second Big Injury for Latham in 2025 Latham is sidelined for the second time in 2025 because of injury. He was previously excluded from the ODI series against Pakistan in March 2025 after sustaining a right hand fracture. Following his recovery, Latham participated in the Pakistan tri-series and Champions Trophy 2025, which was his final outing for New Zealand before he resumed county and T20 cricket. In the T20 Blast, he was on top of his game, hitting 404 runs in 14 innings. While Latham's absence is a significant loss, New Zealand will count on their seasoned players to kick-start the series on a strong note. Santner, the white-ball skipper of New Zealand, will lead the team in the opening Test in Harare. The team is hoping that Latham returns for the second Test.