Cricket: Latham leading from the front

Tom Latham celebrates scoring his century during day four of the first test against Sri Lanka. Photo / Getty

Tom Latham kept a cool head today at a time he might have felt entitled to feel high agitation.

On 97, the lefthand opener swept a ball from spin bowler Rangana Herath for two. Sri Lanka had appealed for lbw and, when it was rejected, referred it upstairs.

The wait took an age as third official Paul Reiffel studied the screen. Eventually he backed the original decision, as he did not have all the available technology. A DRS flaw, but the right decision was reached, even if in an unorthodox manner.

Latham duly completed his third test century, and first at home as he pushed New Zealand into a strong position and advanced a declaration.

''I was pretty certain I hit it so I wasn't too bad," he said.

''But obviously it took a little bit of time - started second guessing myself a little bit, but nah, it wasn't too bad."

What's also not too bad is Latham's output for New Zealand.

At 23, he is now averaging an impressive 41 from 15 tests; in 29 innings he's gone past 50 nine times.

Of modern specialist New Zealand openers, only Mark Richardson (44.77 in 38 tests, 65 innings) bears comparison.

Latham insists he's distinctly non-statistically minded.

"No, I think it's important to put the team first and it's whatever the team needs. I think that' the philosophy of everyone in this group.

''If we put the team first, those personal milestones will follow. That's certainly my thinking."

Today was his first century in a second innings, the time where teams are looking to position themselves for a tilt at victory.

He said he hasn't scored many runs in second innings, so that gave extra satisfaction.

"Any innings you score a hundred it's pretty satisfying, but to put the guys in the situation of being able to declare before lunch and have a crack at them was certainly our plan."

Latham is happy with his game at present, feels he's hitting the ball well, especially in Australia when he was a steady contributor, with 187 runs at 31 in the three tests, rather than spectacular.

''I've just been finding ways to get out. So if I can keep getting myself in those situations, then pushing on from that stage, hopefully the runs will keep coming during the summer."