As we get ready to host England and New Zeeland on Wednesday in the opening Vitality IT20 fixture at Seat Unique Riverside, we take a look at some of the recent Kiwis who have represented Durham.
Ajaz Patel
New Zealand left arm orthodox spinner Ajaz Patel joined Durham for 3 first-class games earlier this summer and demonstrated his international class for the county.
The Kiwi spinner took two five-wicket hauls as Durham triumphed over Gloucestershire at Seat Unique Stadium Bristol.
Finishing with match figures of 10 for 209, Patel was imperious as he took key wickets in Gloucestershire’s middle order in the first innings and skittled out the tail in the second.
Tom Latham
New Zealand international Tom Latham enjoyed to successful spells at The Riverside when he joined as overseas for the second part of both the 2017 and 2018 season.
Signing as overseas wasn’t his first spell in the North East with Durham, in 2010 Latham had been a member of the Durham Cricket Academy and made several appearances for the Second XI. During that time, he had also played the Northumberland development XI and played local cricket for Gateshead Fell in the North East Premier League.
Before his stint at Durham, the year previous, Latham had experienced life in the County Championship having played a season at Kent in 2016. On his debut, against Glamorgan, he posted half-centuries in both innings, the first Kent batsman in history to do that in their first game.
Latham, who would play in all three formats at The Riverside, went on to make 8 First-class appearances for the club and tallied up an impressive 748 runs at an average of 53.43, including three centuries with a high score of 147.
He also enjoyed a successful Vitality Blast campaign in 2018 as Durham reached the quarter-finals of the competition. He played 14 matches in the Blast during 2018 and finished as Durham’s leading run scorer on 470 runs, an amount which included an unbelievable 98* from 55 balls as Durham defeat Notts at Trent Bridge.
Will Young
New Zealand international batsman Will Young joined Durham for the opening four games of the 2021 County Championship season proving to be a popular member of the Durham squad.
His early season runs were an aspect of Durham’s form in red ball cricket, which saw Durham right in contention for Division 1 from the off.
The 30-year-old scored his maiden Durham century against Warwickshire with 124 from 274 balls putting Durham in a commanding position against the Bears.
Young then went onto score 103 against Worcestershire as Durham won by 258 runs at The Riverside.
Following his Durham spell Will scored 82 as New Zealand beat England by 8 wickets in the 2nd test at Edgbaston.
Rachin Ravindra
Following the departure of Keegan Petersen last season, Rachin Ravindra was brought in as cover for Durham’s County Championship fixture against Worcestershire and he didn’t disappoint
Having been a reserve for New Zealand’s tour of England, the 22-year-old was visiting friends in Dublin ahead of his Durham call up.
In his one and only game he scored 263 runs which included 217 from 318 balls in the first innings, scoring his highest First-class score and the fourth century of his First-class career. Ravindra became the third Durham player to score a double century on his first-class debut.