New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has officially named Mitchell Santner as the new captain for the national white-ball teams, succeeding Kane Williamson. The announcement was made on Wednesday, marking the start of a new chapter for the 32-year-old all-rounder, who has already showcased his leadership skills in recent series.
Santner, who boasts an impressive 243 international caps, expressed his excitement at taking over the reins from Williamson, one of New Zealand’s most celebrated cricketers. “It’s obviously a huge honor and a privilege to be asked. When you’re a young kid, the dream was always to play for New Zealand, but to have the opportunity to officially lead my country in two formats is special,” he said in a statement released by NZC. “It’s a new challenge, and I’m excited to get stuck into the important period of white-ball cricket that we have ahead of us,” he added.
Santner is no stranger to captaincy, having led the Blackcaps during their recent white-ball series against Sri Lanka. His composed demeanor and tactical acumen have earned him respect both on and off the field.
New Zealand head coach Gary Stead praised Santner’s suitability for the role. “Mitch is a fantastic team man and leads by example in all facets of the game. He’s an incredibly calm and collected personality, and he has a huge amount of respect in the changing room, which will serve him well,” said Stead. Reflecting on Santner’s leadership experience, he added, “He’s had plenty of experience leading the T20 side and did a good job when he captained the ODI team last month. I’m sure Mitch will also bring his own ideas and style of leadership to the role.”
The decision to appoint Santner as white-ball captain is part of NZC’s broader strategy to manage leadership responsibilities effectively. Stead emphasized that splitting captaincy roles allows Tom Latham, the current Test captain, to focus on leading the team in the longest format of the game. “Tom’s doing a great job as full-time Test captain since taking over in October, and we’re keen to allow him to focus on that job, which requires a considerable amount of time and energy,” Stead explained.
NZC CEO Scott Weenink also lauded Santner’s appointment, describing him as a “natural choice” for the role. “Mitchell was one of the first picked for both the ODI and T20 teams and is very popular and well-respected by his teammates. He’s been one of the top-performing white-ball bowlers in world cricket for several years, and his experience will hold him in good stead as he takes over the captaincy roles,” Weenink said.
Santner’s first assignment as New Zealand’s white-ball skipper will be a six-match home series against Sri Lanka, starting on December 23. This series will serve as a crucial preparation for the ICC Champions Trophy, which is scheduled for next year.