County Championship 2017: Tom Latham agrees to join Durham

Latham, who has already played for Durham's academy and second team, will arrive after the Champions Trophy in June as Cook's replacement.

London: New Zealand opener Tom Latham has agreed to join Durham as the English county’s overseas player for the second half of the 2017 season. Latham is Durham’s second overseas recruit this week after South Africa batsman Stephen Cook signed on for the first half of the forthcoming campaign. Cook is expected to be selected for his country’s Test series against England in July and August. Latham, who has already played for Durham’s academy and second team, will arrive after the Champions Trophy in June as Cook’s replacement. The 24-year-old left-hander is an emerging force in Test and one-day international cricket.

“I am really looking forward to another stint in county cricket in 2017,” he said. “It is even more exciting to be returning to Durham. I can’t wait to get started with my new team-mates and hope to be able to contribute positively both on and off the field.” Earlier, South Africa opening batsman Stephen Cook is to play for Durham in the first half of the 2017 English season, the northeast county announced Monday. Cook, 34, who made a century on his Test debut against England at Centurion in 2016, has since gone on to establish himself at the top of the Proteas’ order.

Now he will be available for the early rounds of Durham’s campaign in the second division of English cricket’s first-class County Championship following their controversial relegation last season. Cook will also play in the domestic One-Day Cup ahead of what is expected to be his call-up to the South Africa squad for the Test section of their tour of England in July and August.

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