Wellington: Mitchell Santner has been appointed as the new white-ball captain of New Zealand, taking over from Kane Williamson, as announced by New Zealand Cricket.
The official announcement was made on Wednesday, following Williamson's decision to step down from the captaincy after the ICC T20 World Cup in June.
At 32 years old, Santner, an all-rounder, is poised to embrace this leadership role. He has gained valuable experience leading the Blackcaps during their recent white-ball series against Sri Lanka.
With 243 international appearances, Santner expressed his excitement about this new chapter in his career, succeeding the esteemed Williamson.
"It’s a tremendous honor and privilege to be given this opportunity. As a young boy, my dream was always to represent New Zealand, but to now have the chance to lead my country in two formats is truly special," Santner stated in a release from NZC.
"This presents a new challenge, and I am eager to dive into the crucial period of white-ball cricket that lies ahead," he added.
New Zealand head coach Gary Stead emphasized that Santner was the clear choice for the position, stating, "Mitch is an excellent team player who leads by example in every aspect of the game. His calm demeanor and the respect he commands in the dressing room will greatly benefit him in this role."
He possesses extensive experience in leading the T20 team and performed admirably as captain of the ODI squad last month, which has equipped him with a solid grasp of team leadership. I am confident that Mitch will also introduce his unique ideas and leadership style to the position, he remarked.
For Stead, the choice to appoint Santner as captain for the ODI and T20I teams was influenced by the overall requirements of the team.
"With Tom Latham, we have a skilled and seasoned captain who has effectively led the team across all formats. Tom has been excelling as the full-time Test captain since his appointment in October, and we want him to concentrate on that role, which demands significant time and effort," he stated.
NZC CEO Scott Weenink expressed confidence in Santner's suitability for the position, stating, "Mitchell was an obvious choice, being among the first selected for both the ODI and T20 teams and enjoying great popularity and respect among his peers."
"He has consistently been one of the leading white-ball bowlers in international cricket for several years, and his experience will serve him well as he assumes the captaincy. I am certain he will be an excellent leader for these teams," he added.
Santner's inaugural task as New Zealand's white-ball captain will be to lead the team in the upcoming six home matches against Sri Lanka, starting on December 23. Following that, Santner will need to redirect his attention to the ICC Champions Trophy scheduled for next year.
