SA v NZ, 1st Test Preview: Proteas aiming to get Test cricket on track

The first marquee Test series will see South Africa and New Zealand face off against each other in the first SA v NZ Test match to take place in Kingsmead, Durban. While New Zealand has a horrific record against South Africa in Tests, the Proteas have been terrible in the longest format of the game for slightly over a year now. This fact itself makes it a fantastic tour, to begin with, and something that will certainly attract eyeballs.

Pitch Conditions

The wicket at Durban has two aspects that have prevailed since 1931. One is that it is wet and the second is that it has a certain zip about it. The fact that it assists pacers is something that will get the likes of Trent Boult and Tim Southee licking their lips once more as they look to get some purchase out of the Durban track.

Team Analysis

South Africa

The Proteas enter the encounter on the back of a stellar record against the Kiwis. Having never lost a series to the Black Caps, it is clear that they will be backing themselves to clinch yet another series win. However, the Test scenario for the Proteas in the recent past has not been too great, especially the 3-0 defeat at the hands of India in the series previously. This was followed up with a 2-1 loss at home against England.

The Proteas will certainly be viewing the SA v NZ series as a series of redemption. It will quite effectively be their series to make a comeback into the reckoning of the Test scene. Russell Domingo, the South African coach also stated that despite the ageing squad, there are certainly those who are doing their utmost best to keep the South African dressing room in a good and happy place ahead of the series.

Also read – New Zealand Cricket analyses facilities at the Holkar Stadium, Indore

The Proteas will be hit severely with blows to the body after losing AB de Villiers and Morne Morkel to injury. However, with reinforcements in place, they will be ready to collide with the Kiwis head on.

New Zealand

Although New Zealand is on a high at the moment, the fact of the matter that they have failed to win a single series against South Africa in their history of Test cricket still looms over the horizon. However, under Kane Williamson, the Kiwis look seemingly unstoppable. They have clinched a massive win over Zimbabwe, something that will certainly go on to prepare them for the challenges they will face in South Africa.

While the batting unit of the Kiwis is more of less settled, Henry Nicholls will be viewed as the sort of weak link for the Kiwis. The southpaw, who made his claim to fame in the T20 circuit has now been hand a challenge by being asked to play Test cricket for New Zealand. As far as Nicholls will be concerned, it will be a clear case of forgetting the mishaps of the Zimbabwe tour and making amends for the same in the South Africa series.

Playing XI (Probable)

South Africa: Faf du Plessis (C), Quinton de Kock (WK), Hashim Amla, Stephen Cook, Dean Elgar, Stiaan van Zyl, JP Duminy, Chris Morris/Wayne Parnell, Kagiso Rabada, Dane Piedt, Vernon Philander/Dale Steyn

New Zealand: Kane Williamson (C), BJ Watling (WK), Martin Guptill, Tom Latham, Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, Mitchell Santner/Doug Bracewell, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Neil Wagner

Also read – IRE v PAK, 1st ODI Preview: Pakistan look to Ireland for ODI practice

Telecast on Ten 3

Match starts from 13:30 IST

StAttack

1. New Zealand has never won a Test series against South Africa since 1931.

2. Of the 39 Test matches played between the two sides, New Zealand has won just 4 matches. South Africa has won 22 of their matches and the rest have been drawn

3. South Africa has won only one of their last six Test matches at Kings-mead in Durban.

4. Ross Taylor requires just 2 centuries to equal the record for the most number of centuries by a New Zealand batsman. The highest number of centuries by a New Zealand batsman is 17, a record held by Martin Crowe. Kane Williamson has 14 centuries to his name at the moment.

5. Kane Williamson is the only batsman to have a batting average in excess of 50 at the moment. His batting average at the moment is 51.29.

6. Neil Wagner needs just 15 wickets to complete 100 wickets in Test matches.

7. Hashim Amla requires two more centuries to complete 27 centuries and become the second highest centurion for South Africa. Jacques Kallis (45) and Graeme Smith (27) are the only ones ahead of him.

8. Hashim Amla has a terrific record against New Zealand. In just 9 matches he has scored 889 runs at an average of 80.81. He also has 4 centuries and 4 half-centuries against New Zealand.