Latham will be looking to take full advantage of this opportunity

Young New Zealand batsman Tom Latham has been given an opportunity to secure a spot for himself at the top of the order after opener Martin Guptill was rested for the team’s ODI series against Sri Lanka.

Latham is ready to take on the challenge of coming in early and head coach Mike Hesson confirmed that the youngster would be likely to see a lot of game time during the series.

Latham has represented New Zealand in nine international matches and so far has come in anywhere from fifth to ninth, but Hesson and assistant coach Bob Carter clearly believe that he his capable of producing more higher up the order.

Stuff.co.nz quoted Hesson as saying: “In the one-dayers we’ve got options but we’d like to see Tom Latham bat towards the top of the order. He’s had some good results for New Zealand A, sometimes it’s also an easier way to introduce a new player to the top of the order when the ball is hard and the field is up so he can get a bit of momentum that way.”

If all goes to plan, Latham could see himself opening with his Canterbury team-mate Rob Nicol, while Brendon McCullum will be poised to come in one down.

Both Carter and Hesson like the fact that Latham is left-handed since it will be a headache for the fielding team to keep adjusting the field time and time again, and they are expecting him to keep rotating the strike with big-hitter Nicol.