Tom Latham Keeps New Zealand Locked on Ire Vs Nz Test
New Zealand have narrowed their attention to ire vs nz at Stormont this week, with captain Tom Latham saying the tourists are focused only on the four-day Test against Ireland before a three-Test series in England. The match begins on Wednesday and gives New Zealand a short red-ball stop before June appointments at Lord's, the Oval and Trent Bridge.
Tom Latham and Stormont
Latham set the tone before the Belfast Test by saying his side are not easing into the assignment. "We're certainly not taking it lightly. We come here with a slightly different squad, some guys not being here through other commitments with franchise stuff," he said. That shift matters because New Zealand are working with changes in personnel while still trying to keep the same Test standard.
He also made clear that the week in Belfast is the only priority. "We are solely focused on this match and we're looking forward to what the next four days presents," he said. "We want to come here and display our skills as best we can and play our brand of cricket as best we can."
Ireland's rare red-ball chance
Ireland will play New Zealand in Test cricket for the first time, and this is only their 13th appearance in the format. It is also their first home Test since they beat Zimbabwe at the same venue in July 2024, so Stormont is back in the spotlight for a format Ireland do not often get to host.
That limited sample is part of the challenge for New Zealand. Latham said, "From an Ireland point of view there's not a huge amount of footage of Test matches so for us it's really important for us to adapt on the go and adapt to conditions as quickly as we can." He added that New Zealand have played ODI and T20 cricket in this part of the world before, giving them some familiarity with the setting even if the red-ball evidence is thin.
New Zealand's June schedule
The Belfast Test also sits between two cleaner recent returns and a busier stretch ahead. New Zealand won their most recent Tests against the West Indies and Zimbabwe in 2025, then move on to England in June for matches at Lord's, the Oval and Trent Bridge. Latham said those coming weeks are not pulling the group off course. "We know what we've got coming up in a few weeks but our focus is solely on this Test match," he said.
The weather could still shape the value of the week. "Fingers crossed, the weather remains sunny like this and we can get a full game in," Latham said. For Ireland, the draw is the chance to host a rare home Test again; for New Zealand, it is a one-off assignment that has to be handled cleanly before the tour of England begins.
