How Tom Latham's "brilliant" captaincy helped reverse Blackcaps' fortunes in India

Tom Latham's first series as full time Test captain of the Blackcaps couldn't have been better scripted.

In guiding his nation to an improbable series sweep in India - the first time the hosts had ever been defeated 3-0 on home soil - Latham has secured himself a special place in the annals of not just NZ cricket, but NZ sports on the whole.

The tour threatened to become a brutal hospital pass for Latham, who was thrust into the role after Tim Southee's decision to withdraw from the position on the back of their lacklustre losses in Sri Lanka.

Instead - according to ex-Blackcaps batter turned coach Craig Cumming - it was Latham's captaincy that was one of the driving forces behind a triumph that rocked the cricketing world.

Cumming says Latham's simplicity and unyielding faith in a core group of bowlers paid the ultimate dividends, which contrasted with Southee's approach at the helm.

"He captained the team brilliantly," Cumming told SENZ Afternoons.

"He kept things simple. He didn't try and chop and change all the time with the spinners, and just about trusted the left-arm spin in Mitchell Santner in the second Test and then Ajaz in (the third Test).

"But he didn't try and introduce bowlers all the time. In Sri Lanka. I think they nearly had too many options and Tim Southee tried to find ways to always get people in the game.

"That's not a criticism of Tim. But what I think Tom Latham did, especially with the ball and as a captain, he let bowlers just bowl. He let them stay, and he didn't try and introduce or change things just for the sake of change.

"You might get hit for one over. That's fine. We'll carry on. And I think the simplicity of doing that allowed them to be more successful. They always knew that they were the best option for those batters and allowed them to have success.

"I think when they look back, that's been a real hallmark of this series. From the first Test, you could see that's more the Tom Latham style."

The numbers told the whole tale, particularly for the left-armers. Santner snared the third largest haul in NZ Test history with 13 wickets in Pune, before Patel stepped up to add 11 more wickets to the 14 he took in Mumbai during his last visit to his hometown.

But it was Latham's commitment Glenn Phillips exemplified that, Cumming adds, as the batter put forward his best case yet for allrounder status with three critical wickets to clinch victory in the finale.

"Glenn Phillips did an amazing job. You don't win that third Test match unless you've got both ends working.

"Ish Sodhi was there as back up. But it could have easily gone to him. But Tom trusted Phillips and he trusted Ajaz and they did the job."

"I think when they look back, that's been a real hallmark of this series. From the first Test, you could see that's more the Tom Latham style."

Cumming notes Latham's influence was also apparent in the batting department.

Aside from his 86 in the second innings in Pune, the runs were scarce off his own bat, but the edict to his team about batting with more creativity and boldness was clearly heard.

"They tried to be more inventive," said Cummings.

"They tried to be more proactive. And you could really see that because you're going to get the ball, as we saw in the last Test. It's going to have your name on it, but you've got to try and score as many runs as you possibly can.

"They just fought. Every ball was a battle within itself."

Listen to the full interview below: