New Zealand Names Stand-In Captain for Second Test

New Zealand will play the second Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo without regular captain Tom Latham, who is out with a shoulder injury, and key bowlers Will O’Rourke and Nathan Smith, both sidelined due to injuries. Mitchell Santner steps in as stand-in captain, with uncapped Bevon Jacobs added to the squad as cover and Jacob Duffy set to make his Test debut. New Zealand, who dominated the first Test, remain undefeated in 18 previous encounters with Zimbabwe, including all eight played in Bulawayo. Zimbabwe, under the leadership of Craig Ervine, looks to end a series of home defeats and will need improved batting to overcome New Zealand’s less experienced bowling lineup. The pitch in Bulawayo is expected to offer early help to bowlers but favor batting later on, and there is no rain forecast for the match. Indian viewers can watch the game live exclusively on the Fancode app, as it will not be televised.