Mitchell Santner Appointed New Zealand’s White-Ball Captain

Mitchell Santner has been officially named New Zealand’s new white-ball captain, succeeding Kane Williamson, who stepped down after the ICC T20 World Cup in June.

Santner, who has represented the Kiwis in 243 international matches, will now lead the team in both the ODI and T20I formats. Prior to this, he captained New Zealand in 24 T20Is and four ODIs.

The 32-year-old will begin his full-time captaincy tenure with the T20I and ODI series against Sri Lanka in late December and early January.

Santner expressed his delight upon receiving the captaincy role, saying:
"It’s certainly a great honor and responsibility. As a kid, I dreamed of playing for New Zealand, and now getting the opportunity to lead the country in two formats is something special. It’s a new challenge, and I’m excited about the crucial white-ball period ahead."

He added, "Some of our experienced players are in the later stages of their careers, which creates opportunities for the rest of the squad and the younger players. This is a new chapter for the team, and we are ready to move forward and achieve more success."

Santner most recently led the Black Caps in last month’s T20I and ODI series against Sri Lanka. He is one of only four players to have played over 100 ODIs and T20Is for New Zealand and is regarded as one of the finest white-ball bowlers in world cricket.

His first experience as captain came in November 2020 during a T20I against the West Indies at Bay Oval. He also became New Zealand’s 24th ODI captain during a match against Scotland in 2022.

Black Caps head coach Gary Stead believes Santner is the right person for the role:
"Mitch is an outstanding team player and sets an example in every way. He has a calm and confident demeanor and is highly respected in the dressing room. He has gained significant experience leading the T20I side and did an excellent job with the ODI team last month. I’m confident Mitch will bring his unique leadership style and fresh ideas."

Stead also noted that the decision to appoint Santner as captain aligns with the team’s broader needs:
"Tom Latham has been exceptional in leading across all three formats. However, we want Tom to focus on Test captaincy, which demands considerable time and energy."

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) CEO Scott Weenink echoed Stead’s sentiments, calling Santner the ideal candidate for the position:
"Mitchell was a natural choice, given his indispensable role in both ODI and T20I teams and his popularity and respect among teammates. Over the years, he has been one of the top performers in white-ball cricket, and his experience will undoubtedly aid him in his leadership role."