They had backed Azam Khan to keep the stumps and appear in the middle order from number 6. The batter who broke into the scene through his aggressive performances in the Pakistan Super League, could not make an impact whatsoever and was eventually dropped from the last two T20Is, having scored just 22 from the first three matches.

“Nowadays social media comes after you”, Hafeez claims Pakistan didn’t want to deteriorate Azam Khan’s confidence

While speaking to A Sports recently, Mohammad Hafeez stated that Azam Khan was dropped from the final two T20Is for his own good as he was anyways experiencing a lean run of form. Hafeez claimed that if Azam had failed to produce a turnaround in those remaining matches then it would have shattered his self-confidence and also highlighted that fans on social media would have trolled him severely which could have further damaged the youngster’s morale.

Hafeez also said that he was left with no option but to drop Azam even if he wanted to give him some more playing time. But since he couldn’t match the expected standards, it was best that he sat out for the final two matches.

“We’ve given clarity to him that he is not going anywhere. Personally, I wanted to give him more matches, but after 3 matches, we thought that he’s not performing well enough so that his confidence wouldn’t shatter to the extent that he couldn’t make a comeback, because you know nowadays social media comes after you immediately after one or two performances.” – Hafeez said via A Sports.

Such has been Azam Khan’s short international career in which he has been picked based on promise and potential rather than match-winning performances. Since making his T20I debut in 2021 in England, the 25-year-old has played 7 matches after his debut and has only disappointed his father Moin Khan, Pakistani fans, and of course the Pakistan Cricket Board. The power hitter has scored only 1 six from 7 innings and only has 29 runs to his name with a highest of 10. That pretty much sums up his case.

“He will get those 10 to 15 matches before the World Cup”, Hafeez on Azam’s T20 WC chances

Mohammad Hafeez did not make it obvious but he did indicate that Azam Khan could be in line to appear for Pakistan in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup. Hafeez revealed that when he told Azam that he is being dropped, the 26-year-old was reassured that he would get his chances in the future and that there was no reason to worry.

The former team director stated that the management had thought of giving him a long rope until the World Cup and that Azam will get his chances when New Zealand arrive for a T20 series tour to Pakistan before they head over to England for another T20I series.

“The plan was that we’ll play him, give him a full run, till the World Cup he’s not going anywhere. The 3-4 matches he got here (New Zealand), New Zealand’s team is coming here in April and then we’re going to England so he will get those 10 to 15 matches before the World Cup.” – Hafeez concluded. 

The post Mohammad Hafeez defends himself after Azam Khan explodes over Pakistan Cricket’s dual faced approach appeared first on CricketAddictor.

The two teams have been playing continuous cricket since the World Cup. Australia first played a Test series against Pakistan and then a T20I series against West Indies. 

They won both of them. New Zealand played a T20I series against Pakistan that they won. Next, they played a Test series against a second-string South African side which they won 2-0 as well.

Leading into this series, they will be led by Mitchell Marsh who led them in the series against West Indies. Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc who rested from the Windies series return to the side.

Nathan Ellis who missed out of the West Indies series with a rib injury was retained in the T20I squad for the series against New Zealand. Australia are placed fourth in the T20I rankings leading into this series. 

New Zealand also have a handful of changes and some key players missing due to injury. First and foremost Kane Williamson is absent from this series as he is on parental leave.

Tim Southee will only play the first T20I and will then manage his workload by resting in the next two games. Mitchell Santner will lead the Kiwis in the remaining two games. 

Also Read: Multan Sultans vs Karachi Kings Weather Report Live Today And Pitch Report Of Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan – PSL 2024, Match 3

Josh Clarkson, an uncapped all-rounder is part of New Zealand’s 14-man squad for the AUS vs NZ T20I series. Tim Southee is also back in the T20I squad with a vision to play in the next T20 World Cup. He did not play the Test series against South Africa. Boult will replace Southee for the last two games.

Among injury concerns are Daryl Mitchell (foot injury) and Michael Bracewell (finger injury) who are unavailable in the series. Mitchell will return for the two-match Test series. Meanwhile, Jimmy Neesham is unavailable as he is playing in the Bangladesh Premier League. 

Thus despite injury concerns in both camps, both teams have been able to name strong squads that will make the AUS vs NZ T20I series worth watching.

AUS vs NZ 2024 Broadcasting Rights in India

The AUS vs NZ T20I series will not be broadcast in India. However, the series will be broadcast live on respectively in the two countries. Fox Cricket will broadcast the series in Australia while TVNZ 1 & TVNZ+ will broadcast it live in New Zealand. Indian fans sadly cannot watch it live on television. 

AUS vs NZ 2024 Live Streaming Platform in India

The Indian fans can watch the live streaming of the AUS vs NZ series on the Amazon Prime video app and website. The viewers need to buy a subscription to watch matches on the Prime Video app.

Subscription Plan in India

To enjoy Prime benefits, you can currently purchase Prime membership at an offer price by paying 1499 per year, 299 per month,599 for 3 months (basis eligibility), or purchase Prime Lite plan by paying ₹799 per year (basis eligibility).

Amazon Prime Video has also expanded its sports programming with the launch of FanCode on Prime Video Channels. Indian fans can watch more than 15 sports including cricket, football, rugby, kabaddi, and basketball amongst others. Prime members will have to buy an annual add-on subscription to FanCode for 249.

Official Broadcaster in India

As said earlier, Indian fans cannot watch the AUS vs NZ series live broadcast in India. However, the fans of the two respective countries respective countries can watch it on Fox Cricket and TVNZ channels.

AUS vs NZ Live Streaming In India– 1st T20I, 2024: When and Where To Watch Australia vs New Zealand Live In India?

When will the AUS vs NZ 1st T20I match begin? 

The match begins at 11.40 am IST on February 21, Wednesday. 

Where will the AUS vs NZ 1st T20I match take place?

The match will be played at Sky Stadium in Wellington. 

How to Live Telecast the AUS vs NZ 1st T20I match on television?

The New Zealand vs Australia live telecast on TV in India will not be available.

How to Livestream the AUS vs NZ 1st T20I match on mobile Online?

The AUS vs NZ Live Streaming in India will be available on the Amazon Prime Video app and website. 

Conclusion

Cricketing action continues for non-India matches for Indian fans on Amazon Prime Video with Australia and New Zealand playing out a three-match T20I series. Indian fans can also watch leagues like the Pakistan Super League and the Bangladesh Premier League simultaneously on the Fancode app.

Also Read: MUS vs KRK Today Match Prediction – Who Will Win Today’s PSL 2024 Match? Match 3

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Glenn Maxwell scored his fifth T20I ton in the series against the Windies and now stands as the only batter with five T20I centuries in the format.

Heading into this series, they are ranked fourth in the ICC T20I rankings. They will be led by Mitchell Marsh and have a few injury concerns. The squad misses the likes of Marcus Stoinis, and Aaron Hardie due to injury concerns.

Spencer Johnson was named as Harie’s replacement who was named the replace for Marcus Stoinis. However, the Aussie all-rounder injured himself in a Sheffield Shield game.

Aussie selectors have picked a full-strength side for the series ahead of the T20 World Cup in June. When the squad for New Zealand was announced before the three T20s against West Indies, National Selection Panel chair George Bailey said the games would play a part in their selection for the World Cup.

Also Read: New Zealand squad for Australia Tests announced, Daryl Mitchell returns

The squad sees the return of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and also Nathan Ellis who missed the series against West Indies due to a rib injury. The players will take this series as an opportunity to show their potential for the T20 World Cup. In this article, we predict Australia’s playing XI for the first T20I.

Australia Playing 11 vs New Zealand, 1st T20I, 2024

David Warner

Travis Head

Head has returned to the T20I side for this series and should open the batting with Warner. He has not played too many games since Australia’s victorious World Cup campaign and rested in the series against West Indies too.

Mitchell Marsh (C)

Marsh opened the batting with Warner against West Indies but can slot in at three for this series. He is still very fresh as an international captain and is expected to be tested against the Kiwis.

Steve Smith

Smith is a part of this series as well. He was rested from the West Indies series. The senior batter can bat at four show his might with the bat and make a case for his T20 World Cup selection. He has played a fair bit of T20 cricket since the ODI World Cup.

Glenn Maxwell

Glenn Maxwell can slot in at five. He scored his fifth T20I ton in the second T20I against West Indies and ended with 142 runs in the series at a strike rate of 184.42. Maxwell is also 10 short of 50 T20I wickets which he can get to in this series.

Tim David

David the big-hitter can slot in at six. After playing the series against West Indies he flew back to the UAE to play in the ILT20 for the MI Emirates and is back again to play the series against New Zealand.

Matthew Wade (WK)

Wade will be the specialist wicketkeeper. He has been the favored keeper in the T20I format. Alex Carey has been favored in Test and ODI cricket. He has played 83 matches and closing in on 1500 runs.

Pat Cummins

Cummins will bat at eight and lengthen the batting order. He was rested from the series against West Indies but is back for this series as the selectors are looking to fine-tune their squads. He has picked up 55 wickets from 50 matches.

Mitchell Starc

Starc too has returned for this series after being rested from the series against West Indies. He has picked up 73 wickets from 58 T20Is and does not play the format regularly.

Nathan Ellis

Ellis should play the first match ahead of Jos Hazlewood after the bowler was ruled out from the T20I series against West Indies. He was ruled out due to a rib injury but has now returned fit.

Adam Zampa

Zampa concludes Australia’s likely playing XI. The Aussie spinner is 13 short of 100 T20I wickets and can get to that if he has a good series with the ball. He has picked up 87 wickets from 77 T20Is.

Also Read: Aaron Hardie ruled out of T20I series against New Zealand, replacement announced

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Date and Venue

The AUS vs NZ first T20I will be played in Wellington on February 21. The match starts at 11.40 am IST which is 7.10 pm local time. Auckland hosts the next two T20Is on February 23 and 25. In 10 T20I games in New Zealand, the Kiwis have won four while the Aussies six

Team Analysis- AUS vs NZ Match Preview- 1st T20I, 2024

New Zealand 

New Zealand will be led by Mitchell Santner. Trent Boult has returned to the New Zealand T20I series for this series. He did not play the Test series against South Africa. The Kiwis previously played a T20I series against Pakitan that they won. 

Boult will play the final two games with Tim Southee to be rested. The squad is without the likes of Daryl Mitchell (foot injury), Michael Bracewell (finger injury), and Jimmy Neesham (playing in BPL 2024).

They have added an uncapped all-rounder in Josh Clarkson who has the reputation of being a big-hitter. Ahead of the T20 World Cup, this will be a nice Test for the Kiwis at home. It is an opportunity for the players selected to make an impression and stay in contention for T20 World Cup selection.

New Zealand Squad 

Mitchell Santner (c), Finn Allen, Trent Boult (games 2 & 3), Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Devon Conway (wk), Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Adam Milne, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert (wk), Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee (game 1)

Australia

Australia have a few injury concerns heading into this series. They will be without the likes of Marcus Stoinis and Aaron Harie in this series. Both are ruled out with injury concerns. The Aussies will be led by Mitchell Marsh. He will have plenty of leadership experience to fall back on with Pat Cummins returning to the squad for the series.

Also back is Mitchell Starc who was rested from the West Indies T20I series. Glenn Maxwell, Azam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Ellis make up the bowling attack. Cricket Australia has named Spencer Johnson as the replacement for Stoinis. 

Australia Squad

Mitchell Marsh (c), Pat Cummins, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa

Also Read: “That’s their character” – David Warner calls out New Zealand fans for vulgar behavior, ready for hostile reception

Key Battles

David Warner vs Tim Southee

This matchup will be an enticing contest between the two senior players. Warner had had the wood over Southee in T20I cricket. He has scored 67 from the 33 balls he faced against the Kiwi pacer. Southee has managed to dismiss him just once. The Kiwi pacer will play only the first T20I and should eye his wicket. 

Glenn Maxwell vs Mitchell Santner

Another key battle is expected to be between Maxwell and Santner. The Australian all-rounder seems to be in the form of his life. He recently scored his fifth T20I century that came in the series against West Indies. The Kiwi left-arm spinner has just dismissed Maxwell once in T20Is.

Key Players 

In the absence of Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell, Devon Conway becomes the key player with the bat for the Kiwis. The likes of Rachin Ravindra, Finn Allen, and Glenn Phillips will need to bat around him. With the ball, Southee and Santner hold the key. 

For Australia, David Warner’s batting at the top always holds the key. Glenn Maxwell with the kind of form he is in becomes a key player in the middle-order. Azam Zampa is gunning down 100 T20I wickets and Starc with his pace and swing is always a lethal option with the ball. 

Weather and Pitch

As per reports, there are drop-in pitches used in Wellington since there is a lot of rain at the venue. There is a forecast of rain during the day for the AUS vs NZ first T20I.

The weather is expected to clear out by the time the match starts in the evening. However, the rain might mean a delayed start in case of a wet outfield.  The pitch as said earlier becomes a batting-friendly one in T20Is with scores over 200 posted and chased down regularly. 

Conclusion

The AUS vs NZ T20I series is expected to be exciting. New Zealand who have just won five out of the 16 T20Is against the Aussies have a chance to add to that tally by pushing the Aussies for a potential clean sweep. The Aussies are in form after beating West Indies 2-1 in their previous T20I series. 

Also Read: Australia, New Zealand to play T20I series too for Chappell-Hadlee Trophy

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Mitchell Santner will lead New Zealand with Kane Wliimaosn out of the series on parental leave. Along with him, Daryl Mitchell and Michael Bracewell are also not a part of the squad due to injury concerns. Meanwhile, Jimmy Neesham is playing in the BPL and thus unavailable for the series.

New Zealand last played a Test series against South Africa that they won. Before that, they won a T20I series against Pakistan at home. Trent Boult is back in the side and will play the last two games. he will replace Tim Southee in the XI for the final two games.

In 16 T20Is, overall, New Zealand have won five and Australia 10. The Kiwis have won four games at home and the Aussies six. In terms of form guide for the last five T20Is for both teams, Australia have won two and New Zealand four. In this article, we take a look at New Zealand’s predicted XI for the first T20I against Australia.

Also Read: Aaron Hardie ruled out of T20I series against New Zealand, replacement announced

New Zealand Playing 11 vs Australia, 1st T20I, 2024

Devon Conway (WK)

Conway will open the batting. In the absence of Williamson, he is the most experienced batter in the side and will need to anchor the side with the bat. He is approaching 1500 runs in the format.

Finn Allen

Allen might open the batting with Conway. The young Kiwi opener has not been able to maximise his chances in the format. However, he scored a hundred in the last T20I series against Pakistan.

Rachin Ravindra

The southpaw will slot in at three. He has shown a lot of maturity with the bat since the ODI World Cup and also provides a bowling option in the top five. He is an all-format cricketer. He has played 19 T20Is scoring just 146 runs.

Mark Chapman

Chapman will bat at four. He made a switch from Canada to New Zealand to prolong his international career and has done a good job so far with the bat. He is approaching 1400 runs in the format.

Glenn Phillips

Phillips can bat at five and play the finisher’s role. In the absence of Daryl Mitchell, he might be promoted to number five which will give him more overs to bat. He also provides a right-arm spin bowling option.

Mitchell Santner (C)

Santner will slot in at six. He will also lead the side in the three games. He has led this Kiwi side in T20Is more than once. The Kiwis have won 12 off the 19 matches under him as captain. He has taken 17 wickets in these games.

Tim Southee

Southee will slot in at seven. He has also led New Zealand across formats. He will play only the first T20I after which Trent Boult will replace him in the last two games. He has picked up 157 wickets from 121 T20I games.

Lockie Ferguson

Ferguson will pair up with Southee as the second pacer in the lineup. His pace will be a factor in the series against Australia with the Aussies good players of fast bowling. He is one shy of 50 T20I wickets.

Matt Henry

Henry will be the third seamer in the XI. He has been injury-prone in the last few months playing games for New Zealand on and off. He last played in the 5th T20I against Pakistan in Christchurch where he took two wickets.

Adam Milne

Adam Milne will be the fourth seamer in this XI. This is a good chance for the Kiwis to unsettle the Australians with raw pace and push them on the back foot. Milne has picked up 57 wickets in 50 T20Is.

Ish Sodhi

Sodhi concludes the paying XI for New Zealand for the first T20I against Australia. he last played in the fifth T20I against Pakistan. He has picked up 132 wickets in 109 T20Is.

Also Read: Australia, New Zealand to play T20I series too for Chappell-Hadlee Trophy

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The series continues preparations for both teams in the upcoming T20 World Cup. The tournament will be played in June 2024 hosted jointly by USA and West Indies.

The first T20I will be played on February 21, the second on Fen 23, and the third on Feb 25. The two teams then play a two-match Test series. Wellington hosts the first Test from Feb-29-March 4 and Christchurch the second from March 8-12. 

Team Analysis

Australia 

Australia will be led by Mitchell Marsh. He will continue to lead the side with Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc returning to the side. Australia will miss a few key players Aaron Hardie and Marcus Stoinsi who played the last T20I series against West Indies.

The squad will also be without Spencer Johnson who replaced the injured Nathan Ellis who is back in this side. David Warner will continue to play T20I cricket after retiring from Test and ODI. 

New Zealand

New Zealand will be led by Mitchell Santner. Trent Boult is back in New Zealand colors for the T20I series. He is aiming to play in the T20 World Cup and hence looking to play all T20Is for the side. The squad misses a few key players.

Kane Williamson is on parental leave. Meanwhile, Daryl Mitchell is out with a foot injury along with Michael Bracewell who is recovering from a finger injury. Jimmy Neesham is playing in the Bangladesh Premier League and hence missing the series. The squad has an uncapped all-rounder in Josh Clarkson. 

Also Read: Kyle Jamieson ruled out of cricketing action for another year due to stress fracture

Key Factors

Pitch Conditions 

Generally conditions in New Zealand aid seam and swing bowling in Test and ODI cricket. However, the pitch conditions aid the batters in the T20I format as it does in any part of the world while playing this format. The venue has hosted 21 T20Is with 10 matches won by the team batting first and 11 by teams chasing.

Thus the pitch remains intact throughout the 40 overs of play. Meanwhile, due to the rain threat in New Zealand, the venue uses drop-in pitches like most other pitches in New Zealand for T20Is that aid batting.

Form and fitness

While the form of batters and bowlers from both teams is good there are injury concerns in both camps. New Zealand is missing Daryl Mitchell (foot injury) and Michael Bracewell (finger injury) due to injury concerns.

The Aussies on the other hand, are missing Marcus Stoinis (back injury). Aaron Hardie who was named as Stoinis’s replacement is also ruled out with a calf injury. Cricket Australia confirmed that Spencer Johnson has been called into the squad immediately to replace Aaron Hardie in the squad.

Tactical Acumen 

The Kiwis will be led by Mitchell Santner while the Aussies by Mitchell Marsh. While Santner has been leading the Kiwis for a few years now, especially in the T20I format, Marsh’s tactics as captain will be an interesting observation. He has plenty of leadership experience to fall back on. 

Recent Venue Records (Sky Stadium, Wellington)

STATS – T20

Total matches 21

Matches won batting first 10

Matches won bowling first 11

Average 1st Inns scores 150

Average 2nd Inns scores 125

Highest total recorded 219/6 (20 Ov) by NZ vs IND

Lowest total recorded 73/10 (15.3 Ov) by AUSW vs NZW

Highest score chased 163/6 (19 Ov) by NZ vs WI

Lowest score defended 128/9 (20 Ov) by ENGW vs NZW

Who Will Score Most Runs For New Zealand: Glenn Phillips / Rachin Ravindra

Who Will Take Most Wickets For New Zealand: Tim Southee / Mitchell Santner

Who Will Score Most Runs For Australia: David Warner / Tim David

 Who Will Take Most Wickets For Australia: Mitchell Starc / Azam Zampa

AUS vs NZ Today Match Prediction- 1st T20I, Who Will Win Today’s T20I Match? 2024

Given the team combinations and the kind of players in both the first T20I can be won by either of the two teams. Australia and New Zealand can both win the match. Hard to predict an outright winner.

Also Read: Marcus Stoinis ruled out of the T20I series against New Zealand, replacement announced

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Australia will be led by Mitchell Marsh. He led the team in the recent T20I series against West Indies as well. He will have plenty of leadership experience to fall back on with senior players returning. Mitchell Marsh and Pat Cummins are back in the side for this series. They also have the likes of David Warner and Glenn Maxwell. 

The Aussies have been hit by a few injury concerns. They will be missing Marcus Stoinis who is ruled out with a back injury. His replacement Aaron Hardie is out with a calf injury that he picked up while playing in Western Australia’s Sheffield Shield game against Tasmania in Hobart.

Cricket Australia confirmed that Spencer Johnson has been called into the squad immediately to replace Aaron Hardie in the squad. Spencer Johnson was also a member of the three-match T20I series against West Indies. 

New Zealand will be led by Mitchell Santner with Kane Williamson out on parental leave, There are injury concerns with Daryl Mitchell (foot injury), and Michael Bracewell (finger injury) while James Neesham is playing in the BPL.

Kiwi pacer Kyle Jamieson is ruled out of the entire 2024 with a stress fracture. Trent Boult has returned to the side and will be playing the last two games with Tim Southee likely to be rested. 

Also Read: “That’s their character” – David Warner calls out New Zealand fans for vulgar behavior, ready for hostile reception

New Zealand and Australia have played 16 T20Is with the Kiwis winning just five games and the Aussies 10. In the last five games, the Kiwis have lost thrice. In the last two T20I matches between the two teams, both have won one game each.

AUS vs NZ Weather Report Live Today And Pitch Report Of Wellington Stadium – 1st T20I, 2024

AUS vs NZ 1st T20I Weather Report

The AUS vs NZ first T20I starts from 11.40 am IST which is 7.10 pm local time. The weather conditions will remain mostly cloudy with a breezy spell in the afternoon. The temperature will be around 20 degrees in the daytime.

The weather conditions will be mainly clear in the evening with the temperature around 14 degrees. However, there is a likely chance of rain in the daytime which might mean a delayed start if the outfield is too wet. The venue uses a drop-in pitch due to heavy rain in Wellington as per reports. 

Pitch Analysis

As said earlier, the pitch at the Sky Stadium in Wellington uses drop-in pitches due to heavy rain at the venue. Thus the pitch remains a batting-friendly one and we can expect a high-scoring match. So far 21 matches have been played at this venue. 10 games have been won by the team batting first and 11 games chasing. 

Weather Impact On The Game

As per reports rain is always a threat in New Zealand in evening matches. The country and the city experience a lot of rainfall throughout the year. There is a slight forecast of rain during the daytime on Wednesday.

However, the weather will mainly remain clear in the evening. If it rains, it might result in a delayed start. If it rains too heavily it is also a possibility the match might even get rained out.

Conclusion 

The AUS vs NZ series starts with the first T20I in Wellington on February 21. The next two T20I matches will be played in Auckland on February 23 and 25. The two teams then play a two-match Test series with the first Test in Wellington and the second in Christchurch. 

Also Read: Neil Wagner angry on team New Zealand? Tim Southee breaks silence on pacer’s inappropriate gestures

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Australia will be led by Mitchell Marsh while New Zealand will be led by Mitchell Santner. Both teams have been in continuous cricket since the ODI World Cup.

New Zealand first played a T20I series against Pakistan that they won. They next played a Test series against South Africa and they won 2-0 as well. Heading into this series, the team has a few changes.

Trent Boult returns to the squad looking to get some match practice leading into the next T20 World Cup. They are without the likes of Daryl Mitchell and Michael Bracewell who are struggling with injury concerns. Kane Williamson is on parental leave while Jimmy Neesham is playing in BPL 2024.

Australia on the other hand, sees the return of Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc who were rested in the T20I series against West Indies. Closing in the T20 World Cup, Australia are looking to play with their full-strength squad.

They played against Pakistan in a Test series where they swept the Men in Green. Against West Indies, they drew the Test series and won the T20I series.

Also Read: Aaron Hardie ruled out of T20I series against New Zealand, replacement announced

AUS vs NZ Head To Head Records (Overall Stats)

AUS vs NZ Head To Head Records In Tests

AUS vs NZ Head To Head Records In ODIs

AUS vs NZ Head To Head Records In T20Is

AUS vs NZ Head-to-Head Records in T20Is- 1st T20I, 2024

Matches Played: 16

Australia Won- 10

New Zealand Won- 5

Most Runs For Australia- Aaron Finch-269

Most Wickets For Australia- Ashton Agar-13

Most Runs For New Zealand- Martin Guptill-463

Most Wickets For Afghanistan- Ish Sodhi-17

AUS vs NZ Key Statistics

Australia and New Zealand have a rich heritage and rivalry across formats. Over the years, the two teams have played 60 Test matches with the Aussies winning 34 games and the Kiwis just 8. In 142 ODIs, Australia have won 96 games and New Zealand 39. In 16 T20Is, the Aussies have won 10 games and the Kiwis six. In 10 T20Is at home against the Aussies, the Kiwis have just won three.

Recent 5 or 10 Encounters

In the last five AUS vs WI T20Is, New Zealand have lost three games and won just two. While Australia have won three games and lost just two.

Key Moments and Stand-out Performances (Players)

Two of the last five T20I matches between the two sides have been in T20 World Cups. The Aussies beat the Kiwis to win their maiden T20 World Cup title in Dubai in 2021. The Kiwis returned the favor by beating them in the league match of the T20 World Cup 2022 in Sydney.

Standout players in this AUS vs NZ series for Australia are likely to be David Warner, Mitchell Starc, Azam Zampa, Glenn Maxwell, and skipper Mitchell Marsh. On the other hand, for New Zealand, Trent Boult, Mitchell Santner, Glenn Phillips, and Rachin Ravindra are expected to be the key players.

Trends and Patterns

The matches have been very closely fought by both teams. Very often the two teams have won one game each in a bilateral series.  However, in the last five games, the Kiwis have lost three games. In the last two, the two teams have won one each.

Also Read: Australia, New Zealand to play T20I series too for Chappell-Hadlee Trophy

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While Mitchell Marsh and David Warner opened the innings against West Indies earlier this month, the Australia captain confirmed that Travis Head would replace him at the top. On the other hand, the allrounder will be batting at number three followed by Glenn Maxwell.

With the top four looking almost settled ahead of the T20 World Cup, Steve Smith’s chances of cementing his spot in the team look highly impossible now. The former Australia captain was given a chance to open the innings for Australia in T20Is in recent months but he failed to capitalize on the opportunities.

The veteran batter was rested for the series against West Indies. Before that, he had opened the innings during the T20I series in India in November last year. In January, he also played one game for Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League but was dismissed for a duck.

Mitchell Marsh on Australia’s top three:

Speaking on the eve of the first T20I against New Zealand, Mitchell Marsh confirmed that Warner and Head will be opening the innings while he will be following them at no. 3. And when asked about Smith’s role in the team, he said:

“You’ll have to find out, we’ll announce our team at the toss.

“There will be certain guys that probably bat in different positions than they have done in the past, but ultimately we’re here to win the series.

“I’ve batted three for the last 18 months, so I’ll be there to start with. And obviously Heady and Davey Warner have been amazing for us over the last period of time, so I daresay that will be the top three,” he added.

Speaking further, he stated that Tim David would be the player for the No. 6 spot. The other middle-order option is likely to be taken by either Josh Inglis or Matthew Wade while Marcus Stoinis will also be in contention for the allrounder’s spot.

“I think players like Tim (David) are a rarity, and it (number six) is probably the hardest role within T20 cricket. We’re lucky to have him. He’s become a phenomenal player in that role and there’s no doubt he’s going to play a big part for us,” he said.

The upcoming series will be Australia’s last T20 assignment before the T20 World Cup in June.

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It will begin with the upcoming three-match T20I series, scheduled to get underway on Wednesday (February 21) in Wellington. Having the same trophy for both the white-ball format means that when both the teams play back-to-back ODI and T20I series against each other, there will be a points structure including both formats in order to prevent the trophy from changing hands within days.

“It’s great that the trophy will have more visibility and profile. I like the new conditions too – especially in the event of back-to-back 20-over and 50-over series,” Hadlee was quoted as saying on behalf of his family in a release, as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.

“It means all games will continue to be relevant, and that the trophy will remain on the line for a longer period – plenty to play for,” he added.

On the other hand, Chappell said: “I am a great believer in promoting young players through the pathways and national system and it will be particularly pleasing to see some young Australian players competing with their Kiwi counterparts for the trophy in years to come.”

Chappell-Hadlee Trophy and its history:

The first series for the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy was played in December 2004 when New Zealand toured Australia for a three-match ODI series. The series ended at 1-1. In the 2005/06 season, Australia won the trophy with a 2-1 win over the Black Caps.

Since then, Australia have won the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy seven times while New Zealand have won it four times. Australia are also the current holders of the famous trophy.

Here is a list showing the result of the series played for the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy:

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Way back in 2016, the veteran Australia opener had condemned the behavior of the New Zealand fans, calling it ‘derogatory and vulgar’. Calling out the fans, he had said that he and his teammates were constantly targeted by home supporters with extremely personal attacks. During the same tour, a local fan was ejected from Hagley Oval in Christchurch for relentlessly abusing Josh Hazlewood.

And while David Warner and his teammates will be hoping for better behaviour from the New Zealand crowd, the Australia opener has made it clear that he won’t be surprised if the crowd decides against it. He stated that he is just focused on his business and won’t be bothered by the crowd behaviour.

“I enjoy playing here,” David Warner said in Wellington on Monday morning, as quoted by News Corp Australia.

“It’s about coming out and trying to put my best foot forward, and score runs. The crowd, yeah, they got personal, but if they have to get personal, that’s their character.

“I just go about my business. But that’s upon each individual, if that’s what they feel like they have to do, then so be it.

“If you want to pay your money to come and abuse people, you have to go back and lay in your own bed. We’re here to play the game of cricket that we love, enjoy and put bums on seats to keep the game going,” he added.

Expecting the crowd to come at us as hard as they come: David Warner:

The upcoming series will be David Warner’s last assignment in New Zealand as Australia player. He has already retired from Tests and ODIs and will bring down curtains on his T20I career after this year’s T20 World Cup. While he received a warm reception from the fans in Sydney during his final Test earlier this year, the response was not so warm in his final T20I match on the Australian soil.

When asked about the sort of reception he is expecting from the New Zealand crowd, David Warner said: “Over here, it’s always the harsh reality that we’re neighbours, in sport we like to beat each other.

“From that perspective, we’re going to be expecting the crowd to come at us as hard as they come. As we always say, it’s in one ear, out the other – if I actually hear anything,” he added.

The three-match T20I series is scheduled to be played from February 21.

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Aaron Hardie was not initially included in the squad and was announced as a replacement for all-rounder Marcus Stoinis who was ruled out of the series due to a back injury. Hardie was playing in Western Australia’s Sheffield Shield game against Tasmania in Hobart and he experienced some stiffness in his calf while bowling on Day 2 of the four-day game after which he was sent for some scans. He was scheduled to fly to Wellington on Monday but now he has been ruled out of the series.

Spencer Johnson ready to replace Aaron Hardie in the T20I squad for Australia

Cricket Australia confirmed that Spencer Johnson has been called into the squad immediately to replace Aaron Hardie in the squad. Spencer Johnson was also a member of the three-match T20I series against West Indies and he took three wickets in two games but was a bit expensive in both the games. He is a tall and strong left-arm pacer and has a terrific record in BBL and the Hundred where he represents Brisbane Heat and Oval Invincibles respectively.

Aaron Hardie on the other hand will continue his game against Tasmania in the Sheffield Shield and will bat on Day 4 if required. He led Perth Scorchers in the absence of Ashton Turner for most of the BBL this season and took them to the Eliminator but got beaten by Adelaide Strikers in the Eliminator. Aaron Hardie is a reliable all-rounder and was a like-for-like replacement for Marcus Stoinis

Australia will also miss the service of their vice-captain and wicketkeeper Matthew Wade who has stayed in Hobart for the birth of his first child. However, he will be available for the second and third T20I of the series. Australia will be led by Mitchell Marsh whereas Kane Williamson is expected to lead the side.

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The veteran pacer Wagner did a shush celebration by putting his finger to his lips in after dismissing batter Zubayr Hamza on day three of the Hamilton Test. He was also spotted raising his middle finger after earlier taking a catch.

New Zealand captain Tim Southee while speaking in the post-match press conference stated that Neil Wagner is a very passionate man and just tries to put his energy in the right place. Southee revealed that he didn’t know what was the gesture about but added that Wagner is a very passionate guy.

Tim Southee unaware about Neil Wagner’s dark gestures

Tim Southee said, “Obviously Neil’s a very passionate man – we all love him to bits and what he brings to the side. Just trying to channel his energy into the right place. He was probably a bit frustrated it took so long to come to the bowling crease … just making sure to channel his energy into what we needed at the time. He came on and took that wicket and that was a big part of the game as well. I don’t know what that shush was about. But we know Neil’s a very passionate guy, he wears his heart on his sleeve.”

New Zealand head coach Gary Stead was also asked about Neil Wagner’s dark gestures. Stead also stated that he didn’t know to whom were the gestures pointed but added that Wagner is a passionate guy and he has not asked him about it.

He said, “I haven’t asked Neil around it. I think he’s a passionate guy that wears his heart on his sleeve. I don’t know who it was at, or what it was for, so I can’t comment further.”

Neil Wagner wasn’t able to make his place in the first Test match played at Bay Oval but picked up a two-wicket haul in Hamilton. He is also part of the upcoming Test series against Australia.

After facing a humiliating defeat in the 1st Test, the visitors were well ahead in the second Test against New Zealand until Day 3. The Blackcaps made a brilliant comeback, and put up a decent bowling display in South Africa’s second innings. The Kiwis were set up a target of 267 runs to chase down in the second innings. The hosts were able to achieve the target with ease and also recorded their first-ever Test series win against South Africa.

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The first T20I match between New Zealand and Australia, led by Mitchell Marsh, is scheduled to be played at the Sky Stadium in Wellington on Wednesday, February 21. The remaining two matches will be played in Auckland on February 23 and February 25, respectively.

Mitchell Santner To Lead New Zealand In T20I Series

All-rounder Mitchell Santner will lead the national team in Kane Williamson’s absence as the latter takes paternity leave. Daryl Mitchell is sidelined with a foot injury. Pacer Tim Southee will only play in the first match to manage his workload ahead of the Test series.

Matt Henry experienced hip soreness after the 2nd Test against South Africa in Hamilton and will need a brief period of rest and strengthening before the Test series against Australia. Tim Seifert has been sidelined due to a torn abductor sustained during training with the Northern Districts earlier this week.

Gary Stead Optimistic About Matt Henry and Tim Seifert’s Recovery

Black Caps coach Gary Stead expressed confidence in both players’ swift recoveries. Stead emphasized the necessity of Matt Henry being fully fit before the Tests and noted Tim Seifert’s regular presence in the T20I setup.

Ben Sears Is A Talented T20 Bowler – Gary Stead

Stead mentioned that Ben Sears and Will Young are strong replacements for the upcoming series. He highlighted Sears’ impactful performances against Pakistan and commended Young’s consistent contributions across formats.

“Ben showed in his recent performances against Pakistan that he is a talented T20 bowler capable of influencing games of cricket for New Zealand,” Stead further added.

“Will has been a regular in the environment across formats for some time now and his recent performances for the Central Stags in the Super Smash show he his more than capable to contribute at this level,” he concluded.

Left-arm pacer Trent Boult is set to rejoin the New Zealand squad after a 15-month absence from the shorter format. Boult will feature in the latter two matches of the series. The pacer last played a T20 match during the 2022 World Cup encounter against Pakistan.

New Zealand squad: Mitchell Santner (c), Finn Allen, Trent Boult (games 2 & 3), Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Adam Milne, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Ben Sears, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee (game 1), Will Young.

Also read: PAK vs NZ: Watch – Saim Ayub Surprises Matt Henry With Stupendous No-Look Six

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The fresh injury now means that he will not undergo surgery but instead will opt to rehab and rest to give the injury the best chance to heal and recover. Jamieson said while the news had been tough to take, his determination to return to play hadn’t wavered.

Last Few Days Have Been Challenging: Kyle Jamieson

“The last few days have been some of my most challenging but I am hugely grateful for the support I’ve received from my partner, family, teammates, support staff and medical professionals. I know injuries are part of life as a cricketer and at my age I am hopeful I still have many more playing days ahead of me” Jamieson said in a statement.

Jamieson has been struggling with back issues for the last two years. He first got injured in June 2022 but then came back at home in a series against England. However, a recurrence of the injury meant that he had to undergo surgery that kept him out of the game for months. The Kiwi pacer also missed the ICC 2023 World Cup in India due to a back injury as well. Despite returning fit, the fresh injury to Kyle Jamieson might not seem him back in the field in 2024.

“We’ve all seen how much work Kyle has put into returning to international cricket and for him to have a setback like this is tough news to get. On the positive side we know how determined he is to keep playing cricket for New Zealand and we will be fully behind him on the rehabilitation road ahead. His resolve is undiminished,” New Zealand head coach Gary Stead said.

Also Read: Revealed: Why India players are wearing black armbands on day 3 of Rajkot Test against England

New Zealand won the Test series 2-0 against England and reclaimed the number one spot in the WTC 2023-25 points table. The Kiwis now have won three out of the four Test matches they have played in the new WTC cycle. They lead the table with a PCT of 75.0. Australia are placed second with 55.0, while India is third with 52.77 PCT.

The Kiwis won the first Test by 281 runs and the second test by seven wickets. Kane Williamson batted superbly in the series ending with 403 runs in the two matches at an average of 134.33. Rachin Ravindra scored 301 runs in the series followed by South Africa’s David Bedingham scoring 268 runs in two matches.

Tim Southee the New Zealand skipper was a happy captain after his bowlers were able to take 20 wickets on a good batting wicket in the two Test matches. Williamson was chosen as the Player of the series after he scored a mountain of runs. This was also the first time that New Zealand won a Test series against South Africa. This was also just the seventh Test win for the Kiwis against the Proteas in 49 Test matches.

Also Read: Madness, says Michael Vaughan as he reacts to Mohammad Hafeez’s sacking as Pakistan’s team director

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Australia will tour their trans-Tasmanian rivals New Zealand later this month for three T20Is and two Test matches. They recently defeated West Indies in a three-match T20I series by 2-1 and whitewashed them in the ODI series by 3-0. However, the Test series was leveled 1-1 as West Indies scripted history in the Gabba. New Zealand on the other hand defeated South Africa 2-0 in the recently concluded Test series and now will host Australia for a multi-format tour.

Marcus Stoinis has a terrific record for Australia in the T20Is with both the bat and the ball. He has scored 940 runs in 49 innings across 59 matches at an average of 29.38 which includes two half-centuries. Marcus Stoinis has also taken 29 wickets at an average of 27.24 in T20Is for Australia. Aaron Hardie has an opportunity to showcase his worth and get in contention for the Australian squad that will participate in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup which is scheduled in June.

Marcus Stoinis will miss important game time for Australia before the T20 World Cup. However, he will get enough game time in T20s as he will be featuring in the IPL 2024 which is expected to commence in the third week of March. He was a part of the 2023 World Cup-winning squad of Australia. Mitchell Marsh, another pace-bowling all-rounder has been given the role to lead the Australian side in T20Is.

Marcus Stoinis has been replaced by Aaron Hardie in the squad

Marcus Stoinis has been ruled out of Australia's tour of New Zealand, replaced by Aaron Hardie.https://t.co/9N9hHRzXeh

— Daniel Cherny (@DanielCherny) February 16, 2024

Marcus Stoinis represents Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL and he is expected to return from his injury making a comeback in the IPL 2024. He will have to be at his best if he wants a slot in the T20 World Cup squad of Australia. He has not been in his best form in recent times and if Aaron Hardie makes an impact by performing well against New Zealand then it is possible that he will replace Marcus Stoinis in the Australian squad.

The T20I series will commence on February 21, Wednesday at the Sky Stadium in Wellington. Kane Williamson is likely to lead the BlackCaps whereas Mitchell Marsh will be leading the Australian side. David Warner has been in terrific form in T20Is as he smashed two half-centuries in the recently concluded T20I series against West Indies.

New Zealand has also recently defeated Pakistan 4-1 in a five-match T20I series where Finn Allen was on fire as he ended up as the highest run-scorer in the series scoring 275 in five innings. It will be an interesting competition between the two trans-Tasmanian rivals as they will face each other in the shortest and the longest format of the game respectively.

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The Tim Southee-led team pulled off a record chase in the fourth innings at Seddon Park in Hamilton. The hosts successfully chased down a 267-run target on Day 4, sealing a 2-0 series sweep. New Zealand took 18 attempts for their first series victory over the Proteas.

Kane Williamson Guides New Zealand To Their First Test Series vs South Africa

The home team began the fourth day’s play at 40 for 1, with Tom Latham and Kane Williamson at the crease. However, they faced an early setback as Dane Piedt dismissed Tom Latham. The left-handed batter scored 30 runs off 57 deliveries, including five boundaries.

However, Rachin Ravindra and Williamson stood firm for a brief period to ensure New Zealand didn’t collapse under pressure. The duo added a 64-run partnership for the third wicket. Piedt struck again and sent back Rachin Ravindra, restricting the opposition to 117/3.

Williamson and Will Young forged an unbroken 152-run partnership for the fourth wicket during the run chase. The former New Zealand skipper reached his 32nd century in Test cricket. The No. 3 batter also recorded his third century out of four innings in the red-ball series.

Kane Williamson scored an unbeaten 133 runs off 260 balls with the help of 12 boundaries and two sixes. Will Young, who played a supporting role, remained unbeaten on 60 runs off 134 deliveries. Kane scored the match-winning runs to create history in Hamilton.

Young New Zealand seamer Will O’Rourke secured a nine-wicket haul in his debut Test match. His standout performance earned him the Player of the Match award. Williamson was recognized with the series award for his outstanding contribution of 403 runs.

For The First Couple Of Days, South Africa Outplayed Us – Kane Williamson

Kane Williamson credited South Africa for their strong performance in the first two days, acknowledging that they outplayed New Zealand. He emphasized the importance of building partnerships and fighting to change momentum.

“Coming into today on a wearing surface we knew we were going to have to string partnerships together. Credit to South Africa. Certainly for the first couple of days they outplayed us I thought. We had to fight hard to get out of that position and change momentum and with the partnerships and seeing off the new ball were able to give ourselves the chance,” Williamson said.

The inexperienced South African team bowled out the New Zealand team for just 211 runs in the first innings. Kane Williamson top-scored for the home team, scoring 43 runs. The visitors took a valuable 31-run lead as off-spinner Dane Piedt claimed five wickets.

Also read: NZ vs SA Scorecard, 2nd Test Highlights 2024: Kane Williamson, Will O’Rourke guide New Zealand to their first Test series win vs South Africa

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Kane Williamson has 32 centuries and 33 half-centuries in Test cricket and is currently the No.1 batter in Test cricket as per ICC rankings. In the first Test against South Africa, he scored a century in both of the innings to help New Zealand win the first Test by a huge margin. Williamson made his Test debut in 2010 against India and as of now, he has played 98 Test matches amassing 8666 runs in 172 innings at an average of 55.91. Kane Williamson has a sensational record in Test cricket for New Zealand.

Kane Williamson has a better home record than away but that in no way means he is not good in away conditions. He is one of the few non-Asian players with the ability to play well against spin which makes him very effective in sub-continent. Kane has smashed 15 half-centuries and 13 centuries away from home whereas he has scored 18 half-centuries and 18 centuries in home conditions. He is one of the best players that New Zealand have produced in decades and he is the leading run-getter for the Kiwis in Test cricket.

Kane Williamson led the New Zealand team to the World Test Championship title in 2021 where they defeated India in the finals. He has a great record in Test cricket for New Zealand and is considered the greatest batter to be produced on the Kiwi soil. He reached his century in the second innings after facing 203 deliveries and remained unbeaten at 133 finishing the chase with Will Young who remained unbeaten on 60.

Watch- Kane Williamson reaches another milestone as he scores his 32nd century in Test cricket

Kane Williamson has reached his 32nd Test Century! With 172 innings, that is the fewest innings to reach 32 test 100's in test history, beating Steve Smith. @BLACKCAPS v South Africa: 2nd Test | LIVE on DUKE and TVNZ+ pic.twitter.com/pSg5VFP2nS

— TVNZ+ (@TVNZ) February 16, 2024

New Zealand will now host their trans-Tasmanian rivals Australia for three T20Is and two Test matches with the T20Is commencing on February 21, Wednesday at the Sky Stadium in Wellington. Kane Williamson is likely to lead the New Zealand side in the T20I series whereas Tim Southee will be the skipper in the Test series. Australia drew their series against West Indies 1-1 but they won the ODI and T20I series against them.

Kane Williamson will be hoping to be at his best in terms of both batting and fitness as his injury issues have been a big concern for New Zealand team management. He is the key player for the Blackcaps in almost every format and has served New Zealand for more than a decade going strong as always. He has the most number of Test centuries amongst Fab 4 and he has taken only 172 innings to reach 34 centuries.

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Kane Williamson scored his seventh century in as many Tests to take his team home. Chasing 267, New Zealand made a poor start with the bat as both of their openers – Devon Conway (17) and Tom Latham (30) – departed cheaply to leave their team reeling at 53 for 2.

The former New Zealand skipper and Rachin Ravindra steadied the ship and took the score past the 100-run mark by adding 64 runs for the third wicket. Dane Piedt broke the stand by sending back Ravindra for 20. It was followed by an unbeaten stand of 152 runs between Kane Williamson and Will Young.

The veteran batsman went on to score his 32nd century in Tests and remained unbeaten on 133. His knock came off 260 balls and contained 12 fours and 2 sixes. On the other hand, Young scored 60 runs off 134 balls with the help of 8 fours.

Kane Williamson is only behind Don Bradman:

Kane Williamson is now only behind the legendary Don Bradman in terms of best average in a winning cause in Tests. Bradman, who is widely regarded as the best batsman of all time, has the best average in Test wins (minimum 15 wins). The former Australia cricketer had a staggering average of 130.08 in Test wins. He is the only player with an average of more than 100 in winning Tests.

Kane Williamson has moved to the second spot in the list and is now the only other player apart from Bradman to have an average of over 80 in Test wins. He currently has an average of 81.86 in Test wins. Former Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq is third in the list while former West Indies allrounder Garry Sobers is fourth.

Highest averages in test wins (min 15 wins)
130.08 Don Bradman
81.86 Kane Williamson
78.16 Inzamam-ul-Haq
77.42 Garry Sobers#NZvSA

— Francis Payne (@FPayne100) February 16, 2024

Williamson now has 32 centuries in Tests which is the most by an active player. Australia star Steve Smith has also 32 Test centuries. Williamson is also the fastest to 32 Test tons, reaching the milestone in 172 innings.

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The Black Caps completed the run chase in the fourth innings of the match at Seddon Park in Hamilton. The home team clinched their first-ever Test series victory against the Proteas. Notably, the Kiwis registered a 281-run victory during the series opener.

Young New Zealand seamer Will O’Rourke was named Player of the Match for his brilliant bowling display in both innings. O’Rourke recorded nine wickets in his maiden Test appearance, including his first five-wicket haul in the second innings of the recent match.

Will O’Rourke Takes Four Wickets In First Innings

The South African team managed to score just 242 runs after opting to bat first. Matt Henry provided an early breakthrough for the Black Caps, dismissing opener Clyde Fortuin for a duck. Skipper Neil Brand scored 25 runs before being dismissed by Will O’Rourke.

Raynard van Tonder (32), Zubayr Hamza (20), and David Bedingham (39) got off to decent starts but failed to convert them into big scores, resulting in a collapse to 150/6. However, Ruan de Swardt (64) and Shaun von Berg (38) added 77 runs for the seventh wicket.

Will O’Rourke, who replaced Kyle Jamieson in the playing XI, ended with figures of 4/59. He dismissed Neil Brand, Shaun von Berg, Ruan de Swardt, and Dane Paterson. O’Rourke also picked up two wickets off consecutive deliveries to bowl out the opposition team.

Dane Piedt Bags Five Wicket Haul In First Innings

Off-spinner Dane Piedt claimed five wickets in the first innings to bowl out the New Zealand team for just 211 runs. Kane Williamson scored 43 runs before being dismissed by Dane Piedt. New Zealand collapsed from 145/3, conceding a 31-run lead to the Proteas.

David Bedingham Scores Memorable Test Hundred

During the second innings, the visiting team lost three wickets for just 39 runs. David Bedingham steadied the innings with a 98-run partnership with Keegan Petersen for the fifth wicket. Bedingham scored a memorable hundred, reaching 110 runs off 141 deliveries.

Matt Henry broke the partnership by removing Keegan Petersen, who scored 43 runs. The Proteas collapsed from 213-5 to a total of 235 all out. Will O’Rourke was instrumental in this collapse, claiming five wickets for 89 runs in the second innings in nearly 33 overs.

Kane Williamson Smashes 32nd Hundred In Test Cricket

New Zealand suffered an early setback with the dismissal of Devon Conway on Day 3. Tom Latham was dismissed for 30 runs, leaving the home team at 53-2. Kane Williamson added a critical 64-run partnership with Rachin Ravindra for the third wicket in the chase.

Kane Williamson anchored the run chase and reached his 32nd hundred in Test cricket. He remained unbeaten on 133 runs off 260 balls with the help of 12 deliveries and two sixes. He added a 152-run partnership with Will Young, who scored 60 runs off 134 balls.

Brief Scores:

South Africa 242 ( Ruan de Swardt 64, Will O’Rourke 4-59)

New Zealand 211 (Kane Williamson 43, Dane  Piedt 5-89)

Also read: Kane Williamson equals Younis Khan’s record for centuries in fourth-innings during the 2nd Test vs South Africa

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Kane Williamson showcased exceptional form in New Zealand’s pursuit of 267 runs on a challenging Seddon Park pitch in Hamilton. The right-handed batter single-handedly shifted momentum in favor of the hosts to secure the Test victory against the Proteas.

Also Read: Sarfaraz Khan’s father Naushad Khan reacts to Ravindra Jadeja running out the debutant

Kane Williamson Equals Younis Khan’s Record During Second Test

Williamson anchored the innings during the run chase and achieved his century in 203 balls during the final session of Day 4. As the former captain reached his hundred, no other batsman managed to surpass the 30-run mark during New Zealand’s second innings.

https://x.com/TVNZ/status/1758334795682136122?s=20

The 33-year-old batter equaled former Pakistan cricketer Younis Khan’s (five) record for the most centuries in the fourth innings of a Test match. Graeme Smith, Sunil Gavaskar, Ricky Ponting, and Ramnaresh Sarwan each scored four centuries in the fourth innings.

Kane Williamson posed a significant challenge to South Africa throughout the series and notched his third century in four innings. The star batter scored twin hundreds in the first Test, making him one of only five New Zealand batters to achieve this feat in a single match.

Williamson showcased resilience in the first innings, scoring a gritty 43 runs before being dismissed by off-spinner Dane Piedt. However, he delivered a remarkable batting performance in the final innings. He became the fastest batter to reach 32 hundreds in Tests.

Kane received crucial support from Will Young, who stabilized the innings, to prevent a collapse similar to the first innings. The former New Zealand captain smashed the winning runs, guiding the team to their first Test series victory against the South African team.

The No. 3 batter scored an unbeaten 133 runs off 260 deliveries with the help of 12 deliveries and two sixes. Young remained unbeaten on 60 runs off 134 balls, including eight boundaries. The Kiwis completed the run chase with seven wickets in hand.

Also Read: Updated ICC WTC Points Table after NZ vs SA 2nd Test, World Test Championship Table and Rankings

Kane Williamson To Miss T20I Series Against Australia

Kane Williamson will be absent from the upcoming three-match T20I series against the Australian cricket team at home. The New Zealand white-ball captain opted out of the series to take paternity leave, with the star batter and his wife expecting their third child.

Mitchell Santner will lead the team in Williamson’s absence. All-rounder Daryll Mitchell has been sidelined due to a foot injury. Notably, Trent Boult makes a comeback to the New Zealand T20I squad after a 15-month hiatus, strengthening the Kiwi’s pace bowling attack.

Also read: David Bedingham wants his own teammates to learn from Kane Williamson after New Zealand humiliate South Africa

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Set a target of 267 runs, the hosts made a shaky start to their chase. They lost both of their openers – Devon Conway (17) and Tom Latham (30) – for just 53 runs before Williamson and Rachin Ravindra steadied the ship.

The duo added 64 runs for the second wicket and took their team’s score past the 100-run mark. Dane Piedt broke the stand by dismissing Ravindra for 20 to give his team the much-needed breakthrough. The visitors, however, could not capitalize on the breakthrough as Williamson and Will Young shared an unbeaten stand of 152 runs to take their team home.

Williamson remained unbeaten on 133 while Young scored 60. Earlier in the game, South Africa scored 242 runs in their first innings with Ruan de Swardt (64) scoring a half-century. In reply, New Zealand were bowled out for just 211. For South Africa, Piedt took five wickets for 89 runs. In the second innings, the tourists scored 235 runs with David Bedingham (110) scoring a century.

Also Read: Kane Williamson equals Younis Khan’s record for centuries in fourth-innings during the 2nd Test vs South Africa

Updated ICC WTC Points table after NZ vs SA 2nd Test:

Before the start of the second Test, New Zealand were at the top of the ICC WTC points table while South Africa were reeling at the seventh spot. New Zealand now have three wins from four games in the ongoing WTC cycle. They have a total of 36 points and a PCT of 75. On the other hand, South Africa have three losses in four games. They have accumulated 12 points so far and have a PCT of 25.

Also Read: Ishan Kishan in another controversy, likes Instagram post calling Mohammad Kaif ‘besharam’

Here is the updated ICC WTC points table:

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The 33-year-old is currently in Bangladesh where he is playing in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League. He is representing Rangpur Riders in the competition. Bangladesh are yet to win an ICC trophy or qualify for the final. As far as their record in the T20 World Cup is concerned, they have not managed to do well.

While they have played in all the editions of the competition so far, they are yet to make it to the knockout stage. In the last four editions of the T20 World Cup, they crashed out at the second stage of the tournament after managing just two wins in each edition. In the 2022 T20 World Cup, Bangladesh won only two games and finished at the ninth spot in the 16-team competition.

Also Read: Watch: Ravi Shastri’s huge blunder as he calls Sarfaraz Khan’s wife his mother

James Neesham on Bangladesh’s chances:

While Bangladesh have not performed in the T20 World Cups so far, James Neesham believes they could be a dark horse for the upcoming edition of the competition. He started by pointing out that Bangladesh could have defeated New Zealand in their backyard in the three-match T20I series in December. The series eventually ended at 1-1.

He further said that Bangladesh cricket has gone from strength to strength in recent times and also highlighted the team’s impressive pace bowling department. James Neesham stated that no team can take Bangladesh for granted in the T20 World Cup.

“I think we were quite lucky to get away from the T20 series in New Zealand. We probably could have lost the series as well. Bangladesh cricket has gone from strength to strength over the last few years, especially the fast bowling department.

“We used to almost bully Bangladesh cricket in our conditions which are bouncy and we had seam bowlers a lot quicker and lot bouncier than them. But what we have seen in the last couple of tours, you got a pacer Shoriful, who can swing the ball with pace and get good bounce,” James Neesham was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

“They obviously had a strong tour in New Zealand and they should be happy with that. None can take them for granted in the upcoming T20 World Cup. It won’t be that easy. They will be extremely an challenging team with the kind of conditions we have seen in the West Indies. I think there is a lot of potential in Bangladesh cricket and there are strong players around,” he added.

Bangladesh did perform well on their tour of Bangladesh in December last year. After losing the first two ODIs, they won the third ODI by nine wickets after bowling out New Zealand for just 98. They also won the first T20I before the second T20I ended without a result and the hosts won the third T20I.

Also Read: “Had no plans of coming to Rajkot, Suryakumar Yadav forced me..”- Sarfaraz Khan father Naushad Khan

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The 33-year-old said that while he has not set any long-term goals for himself, he is presently focused on winning the T20 World Cup for his team. He said that after the tournament, he will be taking a big call on whether to continue in international cricket or play only in T20 leagues. At present, he is plying his trade in the Bangladesh Premier League where he is representing Rangpur Riders.

Also Read: “On debut it takes a lot of courage to…” – Paul Collingwood in awe of Sarfaraz Khan

Neesham opens up on his retirrement

“I don’t take too many long-term goals. Obvious goal is the T20 World Cup coming up in a couple of month’s time and try to win that for New Zealand. After that, probably I will take a pause and have a think about my international future whether I will keep playing for New Zealand or I will go for full-time T20s,” James Neesham was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

“I think as an all-rounder, you played until 35-36 years of your age, is a pretty good effort. So I will try to stay as fit as it can and stay in good shape.

“Hopefully, I will stay injury-free and see how long I can play cricket and contribute to winning teams,” he added.

James Neesham already plays limited cricket in the international arena. The veteran allrounder had declined the central contract from New Zealand Cricket in 2022 due to his commitment to T20 leagues. He was not a part of the original central contracts list but was offered one when Trent Boult and Colin de Grandhomme declined contracts. However, the left-handed batsman respected his commitment to the T20 leagues and decided against accepting a central contract.

Also Read: It was my dream to play for India in front of my father – Sarfaraz Khan

James Neesham’s career so far:

James Neesham has played 72 T20Is for Bangladesh so far and has scored 900 runs in addition to picking up 36 wickets. He has also represented the Black Caps in 12 Tests and 76 ODIs, scoring over 2000 runs and taking 85 wickets. He was a part of New Zealand’s squad for the ODI World Cup last year.

Neesham’s last appearance for New Zealand came in December last year during the T20I series against Bangladesh. While he is not a part of the team for the upcoming three-match series against Australia, he is expected to cut the T20 World Cup.

Also Read: “Had no plans of coming to Rajkot, Suryakumar Yadav forced me..”- Sarfaraz Khan father Naushad Khan

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New Zealand and South Africa are facing each other in a two-match Test series where the BlackCaps are already leading the series 1-0 against the Proteas. South Africa announced a very inexperienced squad with Neil Brandt as the skipper for the series as the first-choice players were playing in the SA20 league.

The first Test was a one-sided affair where the BlackCaps won the game by 281 runs laying back on the 240 by Rachin Ravindra and two consecutive centuries by skipper Kane Williamson.

Glenn Phillips is considered one of the greatest fielders in today’s cricket and he has been extremely acrobatic and assertive while fielding.

The reflexes shown by Phillips in the field are something to be inspired from and he has shown a glimpse of his reflexes when he took Keegan Petersen’s catch during the second innings of South Africa. Keegan Petersen was playing on 43 and was set when he was caught by Glenn Phillips at Gully while playing a square cut off Matt Henry’s delivery.

Keegan Petersen was set on 43 when he played a square cut on a back-of-the-length delivery by Matt Henry which was pitched outside off with some width on offer.

Petersen cut the ball uppishly only for Glenn Phillips to pull off a blinder as he dived to his right and took a stunning one-handed catch to dismiss the South Africa batter who scored 43 off 79 deliveries which included six boundaries in the innings.

Also Read: Jay Shah takes a dig at Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer as he sends a strict warning to centrally contracted Indian players

Watch- Glenn Phillips takes a one-handed stunner to dismiss Keegan Petersen

An incredible catch by Glenn Phillips as he takes the wicket of Petersen @BLACKCAPS v South Africa: 2nd Test | LIVE on DUKE and TVNZ+ pic.twitter.com/zTOYDW3Bq7

— TVNZ+ (@TVNZ) February 15, 2024

South Africa was bowled out for 242 in the first innings and then they put up a brilliant performance with the ball getting New Zealand bundled for just 211 leading the game by 31 runs in the first innings.

The Proteas were then bowled out for 235 laying back on the century by David Bedingham. The BlackCaps ended the day on 40/1 and now need 227 runs to win the game against South Africa. Glenn Phillips’ catch was the highlight of the day.

The first Test was largely dominated by New Zealand batters as skipper Kane Williamson smashed centuries in both innings and Rachin Ravindra smashed a double century in the first innings powering the Kiwis to 511.

New Zealand will host Australia in a multi-format tour where the two teams will face each other in three T20Is and two Test matches. The three-match T20I series between the trans-Tasmanian rivals will commence on February 21, Wednesday at the Sky Stadium in Wellington.

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Trent Boult will join the team for the second and third matches of the series, having last appeared in this format during the 2022 World Cup against Pakistan. Pacer Tim Southee is scheduled to play in the first T20I to manage his workload before the Test series.

Trent Boult’s Last Appearance For New Zealand In ODI World Cup 2023

The left-arm fast bowler secured eight wickets from five matches at an average of 18.50 during the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia. Overall, Trent Boult has amassed 74 wickets from 55 T20Is at an average of 22.5. He last played for New Zealand in the 2023 World Cup.

Kane Williamson To Miss T20I Series Due To Paternity Leave

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson will be absent from the series due to paternity leave, with Mitchell Santner stepping in as the interim skipper. Additionally, the team will be without the services of all-rounder Daryll Mitchell, who is sidelined due to a foot injury.

Rachin Ravindra and all-rounder Josh Clarkson have been included in the 14-member squad. With Williamson’s absence, Clarkson is expected to make his debut for New Zealand in T20Is. Ravindra is currently showcasing his all-round skills in Tests against South Africa.

It’s Great To Have Rachin Ravindra – Chief Selector

Chief Selector Sam Wells expressed confidence in the squad despite the absence of key players. Sam Wells praised Josh Clarkson for his batting prowess and promising bowling performance in his debut ODI series against Bangladesh.

“It’s never ideal missing two of your best players for such a big series, but in saying that, we do have a lot of faith in the guys coming in. Both Josh and Rachin have been in our white-ball squads this summer and it’s really exciting for them to now get this opportunity,” Sam Wells said.

“Josh hits the ball as long and as hard as anyone and we were encouraged by his performances with the ball in his maiden ODI series against Bangladesh before Christmas. Rachin’s talent and class has been clear to all over the past six months, and similar to Josh, it’s great to have his all-round skill-set to call on in this squad,” he added.

New Zealand is set to take on Australia, led by Mitchell Marsh, in three T20Is, with the first match scheduled to begin on February 21 at Sky Stadium in Wellington. The two teams will engage in a two-match Test series following the conclusion of the T20I fixtures.

Also read: Trent Boult takes a U-Turn after opting to play as a Freelance player; T20 World Cup in sight

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William O’Rourke is a talented right-arm fast-medium bowler who has gained a lot of prominence due to his excellent performance and numbers in New Zealand’s domestic circuit. Veteran Tim Southee who will be taking part in his 98th Test match of his career starting from tomorrow, claimed that the youngster contains a lot of potential and has all the makings for becoming a top performer for them in the near future.

The Kiwis line-up with 3 pacers in their 1st Test, won against South Africa by a heavy margin of 281 runs. However, in the 2nd Test, they are expected to have 4 fast bowlers due to the favorable conditions for seamers on a grassy track at Hamilton. A decision will be made tomorrow and the toss-up will be between O’Rourke and Neil Wagner.

The 1st Test was an absolutely one-sided contest which was ruled by Kane Williamson with his back-to-back centuries across innings at the Bay Oval while Rachin Ravindra amassed a sensational 240 off 366 deliveries in the 1st innings to set up 511 runs.

Also Read: Unmukt Chand reacts to India’s loss in the ICC Under 19 World Cup Final 2024 vs Australia

South Africa’s inexperienced batting lineup could not even score 200 runs as they were folded for just 162, thanks to a collective effort from Matt Henry (3), Kyle Jamieson (2), Mitchell Santner (3), and Rachin Ravindra (2). In the 3rd innings, New Zealand declared at 179 and set up a mammoth target of 529.

The visitors on the back of David Bedingham’s 86 and 30s from the bat of Zubayr Hamza and Ruan de Swardt, bundled out for just 247 as Kyle Jamieson registered figures of 4/58. South Africa’s tension is expected to further increase in the 2nd Test and it will definitely be a good opportunity for William O’Rourke to make his Test debut against a 3rd string team.

“He’s in the 13. It’s great to have those decisions to be made. Will’s an exciting talent and has had a little taste of international cricket, and I’m sure he has a bright future in the highest level as well. His strengths are obviously his height and ability to extract bounce,” Tim Southee as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. 

Also Read: “That was absolute poo”- Ian Healy slams Andre Russell’s bowling in AUS vs WI 2nd T20I

“He’s Not Too Dissimilar”, Southee Compares William O’Rourke To Kyle Jamieson 

William O’Rourke has a decent first-class record of 50 wickets in just 15 outings for the Canterbury in New Zealand’s domestic red-ball circuit. Those closer to the Surrey-born pacer are well aware of the raw pace he generates, the tight line lengths he picks up, and the enormous height that helps him to have a high point of release.

Tim Southee was very praiseful about O’Rourke’s ability as a bowler and he also likened him to the tall Kyle Jamieson.

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South Africa have played just three Test matches in this WTC campaign so far. They have won just one Test match and lost two with the latest defeat against New Zealand.

South Africa were bowled out for 162 and 247 in the first Test. Heading into the second Test, they will need to strengthen their batting lineup with sizeable contributions in the next Test match.

They have already named an inexperienced unit for the Test series and will need to manage their resources throughout the second Test. The bowling unit especially had to bear the brunt of the Kiwi batters who piled up a mammoth 511.

The batters too could not score too many runs and will need to put in a better effort. South Africa have won 26 out of the 48 Test matches played against New Zealand. However, with this squad, they have a very different proposition when they face New Zealand at home.

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Given their performance in the first Test, with an inexperienced batting and bowling unit, they will need to put in a better effort to win the test match. They do not have the option of making too many chopping and changing as they have an inexperienced squad overall.

South Africa Playing 11 vs New Zealand, 2nd Test, 2024

Edward Moore

Moore is the designated opener in the side. He made his debut in the last game scoring 23 and 0 in the last game. He will get another opportunity to make the most of it in Hamilton.

Neil Brand (C)

Brand the stand-in skipper is an all-rounder but he opened the batting in the last game. He might do the same in the second test as well. He picked 8 wickets in the Test match including six in the first innings.

Keegan Petersen

Petersen is the most experienced batter in this squad with 13 Test matches under his belt. He has scored 659 runs from 13 Test matches and needs to bat at three and score runs for his side.

Khaya Zondo

Zondo can bat at four. He idolized AB De Villers and is a middle-order batter. He has played five Test matches and scored 120 runs overall with a best of 39. He has a chance to better his numbers in the second Test.

Zubayr Hamza

Hamza can bayt at five. He has played seven Test matches and scored 270 runs. He scored 22 and 36 in the two innings of the first Test.

David Bedingham

Bedingham can slot in at six. He made his Test debut in the series against India. In the first Test, he scored 32 and 87 in the two innings. He looks the most in-form South African batter in this Test series so far.

Clyde Fortuin (WK)

Fortuin the wicketkeeper will slot in at seven. He scored 9 and 11 in the two innings of the first Test. He was one of the Test debutants in the first Test.

Ruan de Swardt

The all-rounder will bat at eight. He scored 0 and 34* in the two innings of the first Test. He made his Test debut in the first Test as well.

Duanne Olivier

The pacer with 59 wickets in the most experienced pacer and bowler overall. He was expensive and went wicketless in the first Test. He played 16 Test matches so far.

Tshepo Moreki

Moreki was the other debutant in the first Test. He managed to pick up just one wicket and was expensive throughout the Test match. He is a right-arm fast bowler.

Dane Paterson

Paterson concludes the likely XI for South Africa in the second test against New Zealand. He picked up just three wickets in the first Test. He has picked up just six wickets from three Test matches.

Also Read: Ravindra Jadeja not to play 3rd Test vs England? Aakash Chopra warns Indian team management

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New Zealand’s first innings score of 511 was too much for the Proteas who were bowled out for 162 and 247 in the two innings of the Test match. The team is now eyeing a clean sweep by winning the second Test in Hamilton.

Heading into the second Test, Daryl Mitchell is ruled out with a foot injury. He will miss the next Test match and the following T20I series against Australia. Tim Southee will lead the side. He has Matt Henry, and Neil Wagner as his bowling partners along with Mitchell Santner being the specialist spinner.

In this article, we take a look at New Zealand’s likely playing XI in the second Test against South Africa. In 48 Test matches between the two sides, the Kiwis have won just six games while the Proteas have 26. The Kiwis have won three at-home and three away Tests against the Proteas.

New Zealand Playing 11 vs South Africa, 2nd Test, 2024

Tom Latham

Latham will open the batting for New Zealand. He scored 20 and three in the two innings of the first Test. He has scored over 5000 runs in 77 Test matches.

Devon Conway

Conway will open the batting along with Latham. He made his Test debut in 2021 and rose quickly in the format. He has played 19 Test matches and is approaching 1500 runs in the format.

Will Young

Will Young will replace Daryl Mitchell in the XI. The all-rounder who was ruled out with a foot injury will now be replaced by a specialist batter. Young has played 13 Test matches and is yet to score 1000 runs in the format.

Rachin Ravindra

Ravindra was recalled in the Kiwi Test squad in the first Test. He scored his maiden Test ton and was named the Man of the Match for his exploits. He has played just four Test matches in his young career so far.

Kane Williamson

The veteran skipper will slot in at five. He scored a century in each inning of the first Test breaking few records. The next Test match will be the 99th of his career. He is approaching 9000 Test runs.

Tom Blundell (WK)

Blundell will be the specialist wicketkeeper batting at six. He scored 11 and 5* in the two innings of the first Test. He has played 29 Test matches scoring nearly 2000 runs with four centuries to his name.

Glenn Phillips

Phillips will slot in at seven. He scored 39 in the first innings and took one wicket for 30 runs in the second innings. The right-hander has played just four Test matches scoring nearly 300 runs and picking up nine wickets.

Mitchell Santner

Santner will slot in at eighth lengthening the batting lineup. He has played 26 Test matches scoring close to 1000 runs and picking up 53 wickets in the format. He picked up six wickets in the first Test.

Tim Southee (C)

Southee will lead the side and bat at nine. He took just one wicket and was expensive throughout the Test match. The Kiwi skipper has scored over 2000 runs and picked up 375 Test wickets. He will be playing his 98th Test match.

Kyle Jamieson

Jamieson will be the second seamer in the XI. He started as an all-rounder but then shifted his focus to bowling. He has been injury-prone in his career in the recent past. He picked up six wickets in the Test match including a four-wicket-haul in the first innings.

Matt Henry

Henry concludes the likely XI for New Zealand in the second Test against South Africa. He picked up four wickets in the first Test. He has picked 76 wickets in 22 Test matches.

Also Read: Watch: Musheer Khan takes outstanding return catch to dismiss Raf MacMillan in U19 WC 2024 final

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New Zealand will be led by Tim Southee. He has been the Test skipper for the Kiwis for some time now. The Kiwis scored a mammoth first innings total of 511 in the first Test with Rachin Ravindra scoring his maiden Test ton while Kane Williamson scored centuries in both innings. 

South Africa were bowled out for 162 in their first innings. The Kiwis opted to bat second time scoring 174/9 in their second innings with Williamson scoring 109 off 132 deliveries.

They set SA a stiff target of 529 to win the second Test. Chasing the mammoth total, the visitors were bowled out for 247. This is South Africa’s second loss in this WTC campaign. They have just won a Test match so far. 

Overall, in 48 Test matches between the two sides, South Africa have won 26 Tests while the Kiwis have six. In 23 Test matches in New Zealand, the Proteas have won nine matches while the Kiwis just three. 11 Tet matches ended in a draw. The last time both these teams played a Test series was back in 2022 which ended 1-1. 

The absence of the regular Test players in the South African squad was a major talking point in the first Test. All of them were busy playing in the SA20 which is why Cricket South Africa named a second-string Test side that faltered badly in the first Test. 

CSA clearly stated the importance of the SA20 league and how it plays a massive role in driving revenue for the national cricket team. The season ended with Sunrisers Eastern Cape winning back-to-back titles. However, there is no update on any of the players joining the Test side as yet.

Also Read: Keshav Maharaj roped in by Fortune Barishal for BPL 2024

NZ vs SA Match Preview- 2nd Test, 2024

New Zealand

The New Zealand squad for the second Test match is already announced. Daryl Mitchell will miss the Test match followed by the T20I series against Australia due to a foot injury. Despite his absence, the Kiwi side has a lot of firepower with both bat and bowl to win the Test match. 

The presence of Southee, Neil Wagner, Kye Jamieson, Matt Henry, and Mitchell Santner gives the team five specialist bowling options. Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra can be used as the sixth bowling option if required. Playing at home and leading the WTC points table currently, this is a great opportunity for the hosts to go for the kill. 

New Zealand Squad 

 Tim Southee (c), Tom Blundell, Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Neil Wagner, Kane Williamson, Will Young

South Africa 

South Africa have won 26 out of the 48 Test matches played against New Zealand. However, the current squad has seven inexperienced players who have played one Test match or less in the squad. Keegan Petersen with 13 Test matches is the most capped player in this current side. 

Seeing the performance from the visitors in the first Test, Petersen and David Bedingham are the two most important bowlers in the side. The side lacks experienced bowlers like Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi. Keshav Maharaj who plays regularly in Test cricket is also not a part of the side. 

In such a scenario, the inexperienced bowling attack will be tested. Skipper Neil Brand took 8 wickets in his maiden Test and scored just four runs with the bat. In the absence of the regulars, there is no definite batting lineup as well for the visitors managing which will be an altogether different task. 

South Africa Squad

 Neil Brand (c), David Bedingham, Ruan de Swardt, Clyde Fortuin, Zubayr Hamza, Tshepo Moreki, Mihlali Mpongwana, Duanne Olivier, Dane Paterson, Kegan Petersen, Dane Piedt, Raynard van Tonder, Shaun von Berg, Khaya Zondo

Also Read: Chennai Super Kings to start training camp for IPL 2024 on March 1, reveals Deepak Chahar

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New Zealand won the first Test by 281 runs. They scored 511 in the first innings with Kane Williamson scoring 118 and Rachin Ravindra 240. The Proteas in their first innings were bowled out for 162. The Kiwis opted to bat a second time scoring 179/4 with Williamson scoring 109 off 132 balls.

The Proteas were asked to chase down 529 to win and were bowled out for 247. Kyle Jamieson picked up four wickets in the second innings while Mitchell Santner three. The win has taken the Kiwis to the top of the WTC points table. The Proteas are languishing at seventh on the table.

New Zealand have announced their squad for the second Test. Tim Southee leads them with a full-strength squad available for selection. The batting form of Williamson and Ravindra gives good signs for the Kiwis to go all out in the second Test as well. They have a well-rounded bowling attack with Southee, Wagner, Kyle Jamieson, and Mitchell Santner. Middle-Order batter Daryl Mitchell was ruled out of the second Test with a foot injury. He is set to miss the Australia T20I series as well.

New Zealand and South Africa have played 48 Test matches with the Proteas winning 26 Test matches and the Kiwis just six. In New Zealand in 23 Test matches, NZ won three and SA nine. South Africa have a 9-3 lead in Test matches against the Blackcaps in New Zealand. The Proteas have been one of the few sides to dominate the Kiwis on their home soil. 11 Test matches have ended in a draw in New Zealand.

Also Read: Watch – Kavya Maran’s celebration goes viral after Sunrisers Eastern Cape clinches SA20 2024 title

South Africa have emerged victorious in two of their last five Test matches against New Zealand. The last Test between the two sides ended in the Proteas’ favor by a big margin of 198 runs. The match happened in February 2022, with Sarel Erwee guiding the visitors to a win courtesy of his century.

South Africa have named a second-string side for the two-match Test match. The senior players opted out as they had to play the SA20. Cricket South Africa specified the importance of the availability of the senior players in the league. They also spoke about how the SA20 helps drive the revenue for the country’s cricketing expenses. As many as seven uncapped players were named in South Africa’s squad for the two-match series before the first Test.

NZ vs SA Weather Report Live Today And Pitch Report Of Seddon Park, Hamilton – 2nd Test, 2024

The NZ vs SA Test match starts on February 13 in Hamilton. The match starts at 3 am IST which is 11 am local time. The venue has hosted 27 Test matches to date with the team batting first winning nine matches while the team chasing winning 10 games. The average first innings score is close to 320. However, the Kiwis in their batting form will look to score more. The pitch is a good one for batting with the ball expected to swing for the first two to three days at least.

Speaking about the playing conditions, the weather conditions will remain clear and sunny throughout the Test match. The temperature will remain between 25-29 degrees. There is a 10 percent chance of rain on day 3 (February 15).

Also Read: Mohammad Amir to make an international comeback? Sarfaraz Ahmed delivers a stunning update

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Kane Williamson scored centuries in both innings while Rachin Ravindra scored his maiden test double ton. The form of the two Kiwi batters promises a lot more for the team in the second Test. The Kiwis are topping the points table as well.

South Africa has named a very inexperienced unit. Neil Brand was named the skipper for the South African Test squad. He was amongst the even uncapped players who were included in the squad ahead of the Test series.

Keegan Petersen with 13 Test matches is the most experienced batter in the squad. Many of the players made their debut in the first Test.

Cricket South Africa announced its second-string Test squad for the two-match NZ vs SA Test series. This was because the first-choice players were busy playing in the SA20. Cricket South Africa emphasized the importance of the tournament bringing revenue to the nation.

However, it was met with criticism from all corners of the world, with former Australian captains Steve Waugh and Michael Clarke also criticizing the move. The SA20 2024 ended on Saturday with Sunrisers Eastern Cape winning their second consecutive title.

Also Read: Watch – Kavya Maran’s celebration goes viral after Sunrisers Eastern Cape clinches SA20 2024 title

New Zealand and South Africa have played 48 Test matches with the Kiwis winning six games while the Proteas 26. 16 Test matches ended in a draw. In 23 Test matches played in New Zealand, South Africa have won nine and New Zealand just three. 11 out of those matches were drawn. The last Test series between the two teams in New Zealand ended in a 1-1 draw.

South Africa have emerged victorious in two of their last five Test matches against New Zealand. The last Test between the two sides ended in the Proteas’ favor by a big margin of 198 runs.

The match happened in February 2022, where Sarel Erwee’s century guided the visitors to an emphatic win. Meanwhile, New Zealand’s win in the first Test has taken the hosts to the top of the WTC points table. The Proteas are currently placed seventh with a PCT of 33.33.

NZ vs SA Head To Head Records (Overall Stats)

NZ vs SA Head To Head Records In Tests

NZ vs SA Head To Head Records In ODIs

NZ vs SA Head To Head Records In T20Is

NZ vs SA Head-to-Head Records in Tests- 2nd Test, 2024

Matches Played: 48

New Zealand Won- 6

South Africa Won- 26

Most Runs For South Africa: Jacues Kallis-1543

Most Wickets For South Africa- Dale Steyn-68

Most Runs For New Zealand-Stephen Fleming-1072

Most Wickets For New Zealand- Chris Matin-55

Also Read: Adam Hollioake names the future superstar of Pakistan Cricket and it’s not Babar Azam

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New Zealand will be led by Tim Southee. The New Zealand Cricket Board has named a full-strength squad for the two-match series. Former Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson slammed two tons in the two innings and upcoming batter Rachin Ravindra scored his maiden Test double ton. Daryl Mitchell is ruled out of the second Test and the following Australia T20I series with a foot injury.

The inexperienced South African side will be led by Neil Brand who made his Test debut in the first Test. As many as seven players made their Test debut in the first Test including their skipper. The side is placed seventh in the WTC points table with a PCT point of 33.33. 

The first-choice South African players were busy playing in the SA20 while the first Test match was on in Mount Maunganui. It is being said that SA20 is crucial to Cricket South Africa earning crucial revenues.

This decision by the board has drawn severe criticism from cricket experts all around the world. However, the CSA has repeatedly spoken about the importance of SA20 in bringing cricketing revenue to the country. 

The back-to-back successful editions of the SA20 have helped it earn a major place in the cricketing calendar. It is now starting to compete with leagues like the CPL, BBL, and IPL. The IPL is by far the best T20 league in the world and the involvement of IPL franchises in the SA20 shows the power that these franchises carry with themselves. 

Also Read: Watch – Kavya Maran’s celebration goes viral after Sunrisers Eastern Cape clinches SA20 2024 title

Meanwhile,e New Zealand and South Africa have played 48 Test matches so far. South Africa have won 26 matches while the Kiwis have only won six. The first Test win was the sixth win for the visitors overall.

16 Test matches ended in a draw. The Kiwis are leading the points table with a PCT of 66.66. Australia (55.0) is placed second followed by India (52.77), Bangladesh (50.0), and Pakistan (36.66) as the top five teams. 

The New Zealand squad has been announced for the NZ vs SA second Test. Daryl Mitchell is ruled out of the second Test followed by the Australia T20I series due to a foot injury.

Tim Southee will lead the side with Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson available for selection. Southee, Matt Hendy, Kyle Jamieson, Mitchell Santner, and Neil Wagner make up the bowlers.

Recent Venue Records (Seddon Park, Hamilton)

STATS – TEST

Total matches 27

Matches won batting first 9

Matches won bowling first 10

Average 1st Inns scores 312

Average 2nd Inns scores 328

Average 3rd Inns scores 234

Average 4th Inns scores 168

Highest total recorded 715/6 (163 Ov) by NZ vs BAN

Lowest total recorded 93/10 (43.3 Ov) by NZ vs PAK

Who Will Score Most Runs For New Zealand: Kane Williamson /Rachin Ravindra

Who Will Take Most Wickets For New Zealand: Tim Southee / Neil Wagner. 

Who Will Score Most Runs For South Africa: Keegan Petersen / David Bedingham

Who Will Take Most Wickets For South Africa: Duaane Olivier / Dane Piedt

NZ vs SA Today Match Prediction- 2nd Test, Who Will Win Today’s Test Match? 2024  

New Zealand won the first test by 281 and with their far superior and experienced squad are favourites to win the second Test as well.

Also Read: Adam Hollioake names the future superstar of Pakistan Cricket and it’s not Babar Azam

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The Kiwi win was shaped by Rachin Ravindra’s maiden Test double ton and skipper Kane Williamson’s 118. The Kiwis scored 511 in their first innings which was a bit too much for the Proteas. The visitors were bowled out for 162.

Instead of asking the visitors to follow on the Kiwis batted for the second time and scored 174/4 in their second innings with Williamson scoring his second century of the Test match. 

South Africa were asked to chase a daunting 529 to win the first NZ vs SA Test match. The inexperienced side was bowled out for 247 as the Kiwis won the match by 281 runs.

They are currently topping the points table with a PCT point of 66.66. Australia and India are placed second and third respectively. South Africa are placed seventh with a PCT of 33.33. Their only Test win in this cycle came against India. 

South Africa have named a fairly inexperienced Test side with their senior and regular players busy playing in the SA20. All-rounder Neil Brand is leading this Test side and played the first Test of his career in Mount Maunganui.

None of the players selected for the series has played 10 Test matches for South Africa. South Africa have now played 23 Test matches in South Africa winning nine matches and losing just three.

New Zealand has only won six games against South Africa in Tests. 16 Tets matches have ended in a draw. The second NZ vs SA will be the 49t overall between the two sides. 

The senior South Africa players were busy playing in the SA20 while an inexperienced Test side played the first Test against the Kiwis. Cricket South Africa”s decision to prioritize T20 cricket over Test Cricket with the WTC 2023-25 campaign created doubts over the decision-makers of the game in the country.

The decision to send a second-string Test side to New Zealand has drawn criticism from former Australian captains Steve Waugh and Michael Clarke as well.

Meanwhile, New Zealand will be missing the services of Dary Mitchell from the SA vs NZ second Test and the T20I series against Australia. Mitchell is nursing a foot injury. He has been rested to allow the foot injury to heal quickly and make him available for the forthcoming Test series against Australia.

Also Read: AUS vs WI Weather Report Live Today And Pitch Report Of Adelaide Oval Stadium- 2nd T20I, 2024

New Zealand Head Coach Gary Stead told reporters that the management felt that it was important for Daryl Mitchell to undergo rehabilitation now. Notably, the right-handed batter was rested during the 5th T20I against Pakistan last month. However, his injury did not recover completely.

NZ vs SA Live Streaming In India– 2nd Test, When And Where To Watch New Zealand vs South Africa Live In India? 2024   

When will the NZ vs SA 2nd Test match begin?

The NZ vs SA 2nd Test match starts on February 13, Tuesday at 3.30 am IST.

Where will the NZ vs SA 2nd Test match take place?

The Test match will be played at Seddon Park in Hamilton. 

How to Live Telecast the NZ vs SA 2nd Test match on television?

The New Zealand vs South Africa Live Telecast will not be available in India. 

How to Livestream the NZ vs SA 2nd Test match on mobile Online?

The NZ vs SA live streaming in India will be available on the Amazon Prime Video app and website for premium members. 

 Also Read: AUS vs WI Dream11 Prediction Today Match, Dream11 Team Today, Fantasy Cricket Tips, Playing XI, Pitch Report, Injury Update- West Indies Tour of Australia 2024, 2nd T20I

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After getting married in 2022, the couple were expecting their first child in 2024. Devon Conway is currently on national duty and is playing against South Africa in the two-match Test series. The first match of the series was played at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui in Tauranga.

Devon Conway’s wife shared the heartbreaking news by posting on her official Instagram handle. Kim Watson stated that she is not the first woman to experience this situation and wants to be there for the other women who go through this heartbreak.

Devon Conway and his wife lose their unborn child

She wrote in her Instagram post, “I’m not one to be public about my personal life but it’s something I know I’m not the only one who has gone through the tough times of a miscarriage but I don’t want to feel ashamed or embarrassed about it but rather open to talking about my experience and feelings so that I could be there for the next woman going through the heartbreak! We will have our miracle one day and we will love them with everything.”

 

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A post shared by Kim Conway (@kimble15)

New Zealand were able to win the first Test of the two-match series against South Africa by 281 runs. Devon Conway was not able to do much with the bat and got out after scoring 1 and 29 runs in both the innings. While the second Test match of the series is set to be played at Seddon Park in Hamilton from February 13, there is no official confirmation about his availability in the match.

Devin Conway has played a total of 95 international matches for New Zealand and has scored 4001 runs at an average of 42.11. Conway slammed a double hundred on his Test debut against England back in 2020. Conway has hit a total of nine centuries and 20 half-centuries in his international career for the Kiwis so far.

Devon Conway also had a decent out for the Kiwis in the ODI World Cup 2023 and scored 372 runs from 10 games at an average of 41.33. His highest score was 151* which came in the opening match of the tournament against England.

Devon Conway plays for the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League and has shined with the bat. Conway was the third-highest run scorer in the IPL 2023 and scored 672 runs from 16 games at an average of 51.69. He slammed 6 half-centuries and his highest score was 92*. Conway’s brilliance with the bat had an important role in helping the ‘Men in Yellow’ win the title for the fifth time.

Devon Conway will once again want to play the same role for CSK in Indian Premier League 2024.

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The T20I World Cup is set to be played in the United States of America (USA) and the Caribbean Islands from June 4 to 30. A total of 20 countries will compete in the tournament, marking the first occasion when such a large number of teams participate in the World Cup.

I Don’t Know Much About The USA – Colin de Grandhomme

Colin de Grandhomme highlighted the favorable conditions for spinners in the West Indies, drawing a comparison to those in India. He suggested that big-hitting batters would enjoy playing in such environments.

“I don’t know much about the USA. But in the West Indies, most of the grounds will be suitable for the spinners. The conditions are quite the same as in India. The batsmen, who like to hit sixes out of the ground, would enjoy playing there,” de Grandhomme told TimesofIndia.com.

The prestigious event will commence with a match between the USA and Canada at the Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium in Dallas on June 1. Co-hosts West Indies will start their campaign against Papua New Guinea at the Guyana National Stadium in Guyana on June 2.

India Will Be In The Top Four – Colin de Grandhomme

Colin de Grandhomme picked his top contenders for the upcoming T20 World Cup, naming India and Australia. He mentioned that New Zealand can also be a strong contender if they demonstrate resilience.

“Obviously, India will be in the top four. They have been an excellent group. Probably Australia would also be there. They are smart, and they back themselves to beat anyone. That has always been their mentality, to knock down anyone. And if we could come back strong, then New Zealand could make the cut,” added the former New Zealand star.

Group A consists of India, Pakistan, Ireland, Canada, and the United States, while Group B features England, Australia, Namibia, Scotland, and Oman. New Zealand, the West Indies, Afghanistan, Uganda, and Papua New Guinea are grouped in Group C, and Group D comprises South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the Netherlands, and Nepal.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super 8 round, where they will be divided into two groups, each consisting of four teams. The top two nations will move on to the knockout stage, which will include two semi-final matches followed by a final.

They Would’ve Easily Got Through – Colin de Grandhomme

Discussing New Zealand’s challenges in white-ball cricket knockouts, de Grandhomme stressed the significance of consistency and delivering under pressure. He noted that a few missed opportunities have hindered their progress in such matches.

“It is obviously about not doing enough on the day. It is just a couple of guys not stepping up on the day. There have always been a few key moments that haven’t gone their way. Otherwise, as a group, they would’ve easily got through,” he concluded.

Also read: Daren Sammy claims West Indies can become first-ever team in T20 World Cup history to…

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Colin de Grandhomme was signed by the RCB a season after his debut for KKR. The South Indian outfit would splash INR 2.2 crores for him after quite a lengthy bidding war with other franchises that saw his base price of 75 Lakhs get stretched to crores.

It was quite an uncanny decision made by Bangalore as de Grandhomme didn’t have a successful outing on his debut IPL season. The all-rounder played 12 matches, scoring 126 runs at a strike rate of less than 140 with a highest of 36 and averaged just 15 across the season.

Having arrived just as a replacement for Russell, the former Kiwi international was not retained by the franchise and he appeared for RCB the following year. During the 10th season of IPL, Colin de Grandhomme played just 9 games and had an improved performance with the bat as he scored 131 runs with a 150+ strike rate.

However, his performance with the ball was extremely poor, collecting just 2 wickets, and further degraded himself after a debut season in which he had 4 wickets to his name. That did not faze RCB at all as they retained him for the 2019 edition where his performance as well as game time further depleted.

de Grandhomme played just 4 games, scored 46 runs, and collected no wickets and that proved to be his final season in the richest cricketing league of the world. He was not an effective signing made by RCB in the first place but that’s something the franchise is known for – buying players that do not provide stability in their team.

It was the same thing that Colin de Grandhomme too mentioned during a recent interview with Times of India where he claimed that the franchise has never had a well-balanced side. He also highlighted the fact that the team at times gets heavily reliant on certain individuals with Virat Kohli being the most prominent one.

“RCB have a very good side, but over-dependence on two, three players has never worked their way, which is why they have never stood out as a well-balanced side.” – de Grandhomme told TOI. 

“They Have Never Had A Team As Strong As Mumbai Indians”, Colin de Grandhomme Slams His Former Franchise

Colin de Grandhomme who originally hails from the capital of Zimbabwe i.e Harare, slammed RCB for never composing a well-balanced side and a team that can be as strong as 5-time champions Mumbai Indians.

“RCB have never had a team as strong as Mumbai Indians where the all-round composition of the team has been excellent.” – de Grandhomme concluded. 

RCB squad for IPL 2024: Faf du Plessis (C), Glenn Maxwell, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Anuj Rawat, Dinesh Karthik, Suyash Prabhudessai, Will Jacks, Mahipal Lomror, Karn Sharma, Manoj Bhandage, Mayank Dagar, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Reece Topley, Himanshu Sharma, Rajan Kumar, Cameron Green, Alzarri Joseph, Yash Dayal, Tom Curran, Lockie Ferguson, Swapnil Singh, Saurav Chauhan. 

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The last few months have not been brilliant for the Pakistan cricket team in international cricket. The Pakistani team have faced losses in every big tournament whereas they have only been able to win against low-ranked teams. Recently Pakistan faced a 4-1 loss at the hands of New Zealand in the five-match T20I series last month. Pakistan were able to win the final match of the series by 42 runs to avoid the whitewash.

Mohammad Rizwan lauded Shaheen Afridi as the captain of the side and stated that he is a very good captain. Rizwan remembered the days when both the players used to play together for the PSL franchise Lahore Qalandars. Rizwan stated that Shaheen never lost courage and heart till the end of the match.

Also Read: “Can guarantee that” – Dale Steyn predicts Heinrich Klaasen to set “world on fire” in IPL

Mohammad Rizwan lauds Pakistan’s T20I skipper Shaheen Afridi

Mohammad Rizwan told Cricbuzz, “He [Shaheen Afridi] is a very good captain and I have seen him in Lahore Qalandars and other teams where I was his teammate and he is that kind of a player who neither loses his heart nor courage till the end of a game.”

Further speaking the conversation, Mohammad Rizwan opened up on the team’s mindset in the fifth match of the series. Rizwan stated that Pakistan scored between 220 and 200 runs and still lost the match. Rizwan stated that in the last match, the Kiwis needed 135 runs to win and the Pakistani team were thinking that the Blackcaps would chase down the target in 12 overs. However, Rizwan added and remembered Shaheen Afridi’s words in the team hurdle. As per Rizwan, Shaheen had said to the other team members that they had to win the match and give a message to the world.

He said, “In the recent past against New Zealand, we scored 228, 220 and we lost the match. And in the last game we made about 135 runs and it looked like they will chase it down in 12 overs. But when Shaheen came down to the huddle he said that we have to win this game and show this world. And this is a unique quality that he possesses that he does not lose his courage at any stage of his game.”

Defending 135, Pakistan wrapped up New Zealand for 92 runs in the second innings and were able to avoid yet another whitewash.

Pakistan faced an early exit from the ODI World Cup 2023 and finished fifth in the points table with 4 wins from nine games. The ‘Men in Green’ were only able to win games against low-ranked teams whereas they also faced a setback by losing to Afghanistan.

Also Read: Record-breaking knock! Twitter reacts as Pathum Nissanka becomes first Sri Lankan to smash ODI double century

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Rachin Ravindra made his T20I debut for New Zealand against Bangladesh in 2021. He has scored 146 runs in 17 T20I innings at a disappointing average of 12.17 and a strike rate of 117.88. The left-arm all-rounder last played a T20I against Pakistan last month.

The Kane Williamson-led team will play only three T20I matches before the T20 World Cup, scheduled to be held in the USA and West Indies in June. Ravindra will represent the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season.

Rachin Ravindra Has Not Played A Lot Of T20Is – Colin Munro

Colin Munro said that Rachin Ravindra‘s chances of featuring in the T20 World Cup are slim due to players like Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, and Michael Bracewell. Munro emphasized that time would ultimately determine Ravindra’s inclusion in the playing XI.

“Tough one. Rachin has not played a lot of T20Is for the Kiwis. You got Michael Bracewell who along with Mitchell Santner is the top one and two spin bowling all-rounder. The wickets in the Caribbean are also going to spin. You also got Glenn Phillips, another spin-bowling all-rounder. So, not too sure about him being in playing XI. Time will tell,” Munro said, as quoted by TOI.

The 24-year-old made a significant impression with his performances in ODIs. The southpaw had an exceptional ODI World Cup 2023 campaign, where he dominated some of the world’s best bowlers. He scored 578 runs at an average of 64.22, including three centuries.

The young sensation was awarded the ICC Men’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year for 2023, marking him as the first New Zealander to achieve this honor. He showcased his talent by scoring 911 runs and claiming 23 wickets in international cricket last year.

Azam Khan Has Been Great For Us – Colin Munro

Colin Munro praised Azam Khan’s impact on the Desert Vipers during the ongoing ILT20 tournament. He emphasized the importance of other batters, including himself, filling the void left by Azam at their best in the upcoming matches.

“Azam has been great for us in this short period of time. We knew what we were getting when Azam came. But he is going back to Pakistan, not playing the next game. It is now time for other batters who have not stepped up to step up, myself included,” Munro added.

Our Destiny Is In Our Hands – Colin Munro

Desert Vipers are currently positioned fifth in the ILT20 standings with six points from three wins in eight matches. Munro emphasized the importance of delivering in upcoming matches to secure a playoff berth.

“Our destiny is in our hands, if we score here, nobody’s going to remember the previous games,” Munro emphasized, highlighting the team’s determination to perform well and secure a spot in the playoffs.”

Also read: Not Rachin Ravindra! Sunil Gavaskar names Chennai Super Kings’ best buy in IPL 2024 Auction

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Kane Williamson is currently engaged in the ongoing two-match Test series against South Africa. Williamson showcased remarkable form in the Black Caps’ 281-run victory in the series opener. He is expected to depart after the second Test in Seddon Park, Hamilton.

Also Read: AB de Villiers makes a U-Turn on Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma’s second child remark

Kane Williamson To Miss Australia T20Is – Reports

Following the Test series against the Proteas, New Zealand will face Mitchell Marsh-led Australia in the three-match series, starting on February 21 at Sky Stadium in Wellington. Kane Williamson will miss the home series as he and his wife are expecting their third child.

Kane Williamson will miss the Australian T20i series as his wife is pregnant.

Many congratulations to Kane Mama and his wife…!!! pic.twitter.com/daOLosJLFC

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 9, 2024

Kane Williamson has struggled with injuries in recent times. The right-handed batter injured his knee while fielding for Gujarat Titans during the Indian Premier League 2023. He returned for the ICC World Cup last year but missed several matches during the tournament.

The 33-year-old recently returned to competitive cricket, featuring in the first Test against a second-string South African squad. His comeback followed his absence from the three matches of the T20I series against Pakistan due to a hamstring injury last month.

Kane Williamson became the fifth New Zealand batter to score a century in both innings at Mount Maunganui. Additionally, he became the first New Zealand batter to reach 30 centuries in Test cricket during the first innings of the opening Test against South Africa.

In the second innings of the Test, Williamson extended his impressive form with his 31st Test century. He scored 109 runs off 132 balls, featuring 12 fours and a six. Notably, he has scored six Test centuries in his last 10 innings, showcasing his remarkable batting prowess.

Also Read: Michael Neser returns after one year as Australia announce squad for New Zealand Tests

Daryl Mitchell Ruled Out Of Second Test And Australia T20Is

Daryl Mitchell has been ruled out of the second Test against South Africa and the upcoming T20I series versus Australia due to his foot injury. Mitchell aims to recover in time for the forthcoming two-match Test series against Australia, which will begin on February 29.

New Zealand head coach Gary Stead confirmed Daryl Mitchell’s absence from the second Test against South Africa and the T20I series against Australia. Stead expressed optimism that Mitchell will return in better form following the break.

“He needs more time to recover and after taking medical advice, we have decided to rest him. There is hardly any long break coming up and it is the best time to give him a breather. I don’t know if this will work but we are hoping to see him in a batter shape after the break,” Gary said.

New Zealand is on the verge of securing its maiden Test series win against South Africa. The second Test between the two teams is set to begin at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Tuesday, February 13.

Also read: David Bedingham wants his own teammates to learn from Kane Williamson after New Zealand humiliate South Africa

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The 33-year-old pacer Michael Neser last played in the Test series against West Indies in December 2022. He played one game out of two encounters and scalped 5 wickets in the match. Later, he was snubbed from the side for the entire 2023.

Neser was not part of the squad in the recent Test series against West Indies. Scott Boland is also part of the AUS vs NZ Test series. However, it is to be noted that the duo will only get a chance if the pace trio of Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Pat Cummins miss any game.

Also Read: AB de Villiers makes a U-Turn on Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma’s second child remark

Pat Cummins to lead Australia against New Zealand in Tests

After missing the recent AUS vs WI ODI series, Pat Cummins will be back to lead Australia in the Test series against New Zealand. Steve Smith, who was promoted as opener after David Warner’s retirement, is also part of the series.

He is expected to retain the opening slot in the Australia vs New Zealand Test series too. Except for the addition of Michael Neser, Australia has retained all other members who were part of the previous Test series against West Indies. Below is Australia’s full squad for the New Zealand Tests.

Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (Captain), Steve Smith, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Matthew Renshaw, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Michael Neser.

Also Read: “By the barest of margins” – Twitter reacts as Australia beat Pakistan to enter U19 WC 2024 final

Michael Neser featured in 2 Tests in the past

Michael Neser has only featured in 2 Tests so far after making his debut in December 2021 against England. He accounts for 7 wickets across 4 innings averaging 16.71. Neser also mustered 56 runs in 3 innings including a top knock of 35 runs.

The right-arm seamer has also featured in 4 ODIs for Australia, picking 3 wickets at 6.52 economy. Australia’s chief selector George Bailey said it was great to see Michael Neser get another opportunity in the Test team.

“It’s great to see Michael Neser get another opportunity in the squad following his ever-consistent performances over a long period of time and the conditions we expect,” Bailey said.

Also Read: Not Suryakumar Yadav! Kevin Pietersen names best T20 batter in the world

Australia tour of New Zealand 2024 begins on February 21

The Australia tour of New Zealand 2024 will begin on February 21 with the three-match T20I series. Later, the AUS vs NZ Test series will commence on February 29 with the opening encounter in Wellington. The 2nd Test will start on March 8 in Christchurch. The Test series will witness only two games.

Meanwhile, Australia is set to clash with West Indies in a three-match T20I series. Recently, they outplayed the Caribbean side 3-0 in an ODI series. On the other hand, New Zealand will face South Africa in 2nd Test before clashing with Australia at home.

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South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad while speaking in the post-match press conference believed that if it was T20 any one individual performance would have won the team the game. However, he believed that to beat a quality side like New Zealand, South Africa had to be on the top of their game every five days. Conrad while saying that six South African players made their Test debut in the first match of the series admitted that they would have been made to confront their qualities.

Shukri Conrad further added that a few players of the current side might have got a knock of how harsh Test cricket can be. Conrad also said the humongous defeat against New Zealand was a major jolt and also a wake-up call for the team.

Shukri Conrad opens up on South Africa’s defeat to New Zealand

He said (as quoted by ESPNCricinfo), “It’s not okay. It’s tough for everyone here. It’s like Burnley going to Anfield every week. If it was a T20, you know one performance can win the game. [In Tests] it’s five days of relentless effort and pressure. You’ve got to be on top of your game all the time against a quality side like New Zealand.”

He added, “A few of them would have taken a knock in terms of the harsh realities that Test cricket brings, and possibly how far away they still are. Many feel that they’re closer to the Test side than they currently are. You go through a few days like they have been through, and that’s a jolt and a wake-up call.”

New Zealand batsman Rachin Ravindra was adjudged the Player of the Match for his tremendous double hundred. Ravindra played an innings of 240 runs, which helped New Zealand put up a score of 511 runs in their first innings. Captain Kane Williamson also slammed hundreds in both the innings. Also, South Africa displayed a flop batting show and were wrapped up for 162 and 247 runs in both innings.

David Bedingham was the main highlight for South Africa in the match as he played an innings of 87 runs in the second innings. Bedingham played some good shots by sticking onto the pitch and showed the will to stay at the crease.

The second Test of the series will be played from February 13 at the Seddon Park in Hamilton. New Zealand are one of the best teams at home in Tests. It is very hard to defeat the Blackcaps in New Zealand in the red ball format and they bring in their ‘A’ game every time whenever they play Tests at home.

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Daryl Mitchell hit 34 and 11* across both innings of the match. New Zealand outplayed South Africa by 281 runs in the match after posting a mammoth total of 511-10 in the 1st innings. With the victory, the Blackcaps also reached the top spot in the ICC World Test Championship points table.

Also Read: Rachin Ravindra denies sharing his Man of the Match award with Kane Williamson

Daryl Mitchell ruled out due to rehab for a foot injury

Daryl Mitchell has been ruled out of the upcoming NZ vs SA 2nd Test and Australia T20I series due to an ongoing foot injury. He has been rested to allow the foot injury to heal quickly and make him available for the forthcoming Test series against Australia.

New Zealand Head Coach Gary Stead told reporters that the management felt that it was important for Daryl Mitchell to undergo rehabilitation now. Notably, the right-handed batter was rested during the 5th T20I against Pakistan last month. However, his injury did not recover completely.

“Daryl is a hugely important member of the squad in all three formats and ensuring he is in the best shape is vital with the period of matches to come. Based on the schedule ahead, we feel now is an appropriate time for Daryl to complete a period of rehabilitation,” Stead said.

Also Read: ICC commits a horrendous blunder, lists New Zealand icons Martin Crowe, Richard Hadlee, and Debbie as Australian Hall of Famers

NZ vs AUS Test series to begin on February 29

The New Zealand vs South Africa 2nd Test begins on Tuesday, February 13 at Seddon Park in Hamilton. Later, New Zealand will host Australia for T20I and Test series. The three T20I games will take place from February 21 to 25.

Later, the NZ vs AUS Test series will commence with the opening encounter on February 29 in Wellington. The New Zealand vs Australia Test series will observe two encounters. Hence, the BlackCaps wants Daryl Mitchell to be a part of the Test series against Australia.

Bowler Will O’Rourke will replace Mitchell in the New Zealand squad for the final Test against South Africa. He will join the squad in Hamilton. Other than Mitchell, all the other Kiwi members will travel to Hamilton for the next game.

Also Read: David Bedingham wants his own teammates to learn from Kane Williamson after New Zealand humiliate South Africa

New Zealand leads the Test series 1-0

Meanwhile, New Zealand leads the Test series against South Africa 1-0. Pacer Tim Southee leads New Zealand in the series. South Africa is led by Neil Brand in the absence of senior members Temba Bavuma and Aiden Markram.

While the hosts have all key members in their squad, South Africa comprises young and less-experienced members in the absence of seniors, who are busy with the SA20 2024 league. South Africa failed in both batting and bowling against Kiwis in the opening game. Now, they need to pull up their socks in the next encounter to outplay the hosts.

The post Massive blow for New Zealand! Daryl Mitchell ruled out of NZ vs SA 2nd Test, Australia T20Is appeared first on CricketAddictor.

Kane Williamson became the fifth New Zealand batsman to score centuries in both innings of the opening Test. Kane helped the team register a 281-run victory in Mount Maunganui. However, his performances were overshadowed by Rachin Ravindra’s 240-run knock.

Williamson achieved a century with 118 runs off 289 balls after getting a reprieve in the first innings. Rachin Ravindra made a significant impact with his maiden double-century in Test cricket. The duo helped the New Zealand team reach a formidable total of 511 runs.

New Zealand chose not to enforce the follow-on, allowing Williamson to secure his second century in the red-ball match. He scored 109 runs off 132 deliveries, featuring 12 boundaries and a six. Skipper Tim Southee declared the second innings with a lead of 528 runs.

We Can All Take A Lot Out Of Kane Williamson’s Innings – David Bedingham

During the post-match presentation, David Bedingham highlighted the importance of learning from Kane Williamson’s approach to enhance their performance. Bedingham suggested that adopting even a fraction of Kane’s technique could greatly benefit all players.

“From a batting point of view, we can all take a lot out of Kane’s innings. We don’t bat like him, but in terms of the application, even from Rav (Rachin Ravindra). If we can learn 10% from Kane, we’ll all be better players,” Bedingham said.

Quite Upset I Didn’t Score A Hundred – David Bedingham

During South Africa’s chase of 529 runs on the fourth day, Bedingham emerged as their sole bright spot in the second innings. The right-handed batter played a counter-attacking innings, scoring 87 runs off 96 deliveries with the help of 13 boundaries and three sixes.

David Bedingham expressed disappointment at missing out on a century but emphasized his commitment to countering the opposition’s bowling attack by sticking to his approach. He highlighted his preference for dictating the terms of his innings to maintain control.

“Quite upset I didn’t score a hundred. We practiced that kind of tactic (against the short balls) because the Kiwis do that quite a bit. I’m glad I stuck to it till the end. The first over Henry was bowling I was blocking, and I thought one might pop, and I might get caught so better to go after it. Also, I like to play on my terms,” he added.

South Africa opted for a second-string team against New Zealand due to their key players’ involvement in domestic T20 matches. The visiting team aims to reverse their fortunes in the upcoming second and final Test match at Seddon Park, starting on February 13.

New Zealand moved to first place in the ICC World Test Championship standings, securing a 66.67% points tally across three matches. On the other hand, South Africa’s ranking dropped from fourth to seventh position as their points percentage decreased to 33.33%.

Also read: NZ vs SA Scorecard, 1st Test Highlights 2024: Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson shine with the bat as New Zealand register a 281-Run victory

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Some fans noticed a significant error in the Hall of Fame profiles of three New Zealand legends, whose nationalities were incorrectly listed as Australian. Despite the profiles being finely crafted with no errors, the presence of Australian flags next to their names drew criticism.

Former New Zealand all-rounder Sir Richard Hadlee was inducted when the Hall was established in 2009, while Debbie Hockley, the long-serving White Ferns captain, was inducted in 2014. The batting great Martin Crowe followed suit a year later, in 2015.

Just Hope Somebody Can Correct It – Richard Hadlee

Richard Hadlee expressed his unawareness of the mistake and hoped for its correction, emphasizing that he, Crowe, and Hockley are New Zealand nationals.

“We come from New Zealand, I just hope somebody can correct it, so that’s all I’d say on the matter. I’m too old to get involved in these sorts of things. People know that Martin, Debbie, and myself are all from New Zealand so it’s not an issue for me,” Hadlee told RNZ.

Martin Crowe, considered one of New Zealand’s greatest batters, scored 5444 test runs to his name. The former Kiwis batter held the record for the highest Test individual score, with 299 against Sri Lanka, later surpassed by Brendon McCullum’s 302 against India.

“Arguably New Zealand’s greatest batsman, Martin Crowe led the line for the Black Caps for 13 years. His 299 was the highest Test score by a Kiwi for over a decade, and he led the side to a semi-final appearance at the 1992 ICC Cricket World Cup,” read Crowe’s profile.

Those dirty, filthy Aussies are trying to claim the Great NZer Martin Crowe as an Australian in the ICC Hall of Fame! pic.twitter.com/JxBtHEZxyh

— The ACC (@TheACCnz) February 7, 2024

Hadlee, who holds New Zealand’s record for most test wickets and scored 3124 runs, was mistakenly listed as Australian, and there was also a notable omission regarding his knighthood. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders of his generation.

“One of the greatest fast bowlers of all time, Richard Hadlee spearheaded New Zealand’s attack for 17 years. He was the first bowler to reach 400 Test wickets, and finished with 431 Test wickets at an outstanding average of 22.29, with 36 5-wicket hauls,” Hadlee’s profile read.

Why does the @ICC Hall of Fame list Sir Richard Hadlee and Martin Crowe as being Australian?! The Hall of Fame dropdown menu of teams doesn’t even include NZ! pic.twitter.com/v5yGmWV8Yw

— Thomas Cranmer (@CranmerWrites) February 6, 2024

Debbie Hockley, with 118 ODIs and over 4000 runs, was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2014, making her the fourth woman to receive this prestigious honor. She made history by becoming the first female president of New Zealand Cricket in 2016.

“A giant in New Zealand women’s cricket, Debbie Hockley had a prolific international career. In Tests, she scored 1,301 runs at an average of 52.04, while in ODIs, she scored 4,064 runs at an average of 41.89,” was written on his profile with the same glaring error.

Also read: NZ vs SA Scorecard, 1st Test Highlights 2024: Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson shine with the bat as New Zealand register a 281-Run victory

The post ICC commits a horrendous blunder, lists New Zealand icons Martin Crowe, Richard Hadlee and Debbie as Australian Hall of Famers appeared first on CricketAddictor.

The Black Caps secured their second-largest Test victory in terms of runs. New Zealand is closer to achieving its first-ever Test series victory over South Africa. Rachin Ravindra earned the Player of the Match accolade for his maiden double-century contribution.

Rachin Ravindra Smashes His Maiden Double Century for New Zealand

The Proteas included six debutants as their key players engaged in domestic T20 matches. New Zealand posted a formidable 511-run total in the first innings against the inexperienced South African side, with centuries from Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson.

Kane Williamson notched his 30th Test century, while Rachin Ravindra achieved his maiden double century. Proteas captain Neil Brand claimed six wickets for 119 runs, with Ruan de Swardt securing two and Dane Paterson and Tshepo Moreki each picking up one.

Responding to New Zealand’s dominant total, South Africa were bowled out for 162 runs in the first innings. The Proteas faced a relentless bowling attack, with Matt Henry and Mitchell Santner claiming three wickets each. Ravindra and Kyle Jamieson each secured two wickets.

Kane Williamson Reaches His Second Century Of Match

New Zealand skipper Tim Southee opted not to enforce the follow-on, granting rest to his bowlers. The home team adopted an aggressive approach in the second innings of the match. Williamson secured his second century of the match, scoring 109 runs off 132 balls.

Openers Tom Latham and Devon Conway failed to make an impact with the bat in both innings. Rachin Ravindra managed to score just 12 runs off 26 deliveries. The hosts declared their second innings at 179/4, setting a mammoth target of 529 runs for the visiting team.

Kyle Jamieson Takes Four Wickets In Second Innings

The tourists faced an early setback as debut openers Neil Brand and Edward Moore fell within the first four overs of the day. Neil Brand was dismissed for three by Tim Southee in the third over. Moore was dismissed without scoring in the following over by Matt Henry.

Zubayr Hamza and Raynard van Tonder showed promise but failed to convert their starts into substantial scores. Kyle Jamieson ended their 63-run partnership by dismissing van Tonder. Jamieson also picked up the wicket of Hamza, limiting the opposition to 73/4.

David Bedingham and Keegan Petersen built a strong 105-run partnership for the fifth wicket, with Bedingham scoring a career-best 87 runs off 96 balls. However, Bedingham’s innings ended after tea when he mistimed a pull shot to midwicket in Jamieson’s bowling.

Brief Scores:

New Zealand 511 (Rachin Ravindra 240, Kane Williamson 118, Neil Brand 6-119)

South Africa 162 (Keegan Petersen 45, Matt Henry 3-31, Mitchell Santner 3-34)

New Zealand 179 for 4 Dec. (Kane Williamson 109, Devon Conway 29, Neil Brand 2-52)

South Africa 247 (David Bedingham 87, Kyle Jamieson 4-58, Mitchell Santner 3-59)

Also read: Record Galore As Kane Williamson Smacks Multiple Centuries In 1st Test Against South Africa

The post NZ vs SA Scorecard, 1st Test Highlights 2024: Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson shine with the bat as New Zealand register a 281-Run victory appeared first on CricketAddictor.

Kane Williamson scored 118 in the first innings while Rachin Ravindra smashed 240 off 366 deliveries to take New Zealand’s total to 511 in the first innings. Rachin Ravindra was selected as the Player of The Match for his brilliant innings against South Africa.

The 24-year-old youngster smashed 26 boundaries and three sixes during his knock of 240. Kane Williamson was the next best performer as he scored 118 in the first innings and 103 in the second innings to take New Zealand home with a great win against South Africa.

Also Read: NZ vs SA Scorecard, 1st Test Highlights 2024: Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson shine with the bat as New Zealand register a 281-Run victory

Rachin Ravindra gave a hilarious reply when he was asked about sharing his POTM award with skipper Kane Williamson. Kane Williamson scored 118 off 289 balls in the first innings with 16 fours to his name while he smashed 109 off 132 balls in the second innings where his bat yielded 12 fours and a six. Williamson has recorded 31 centuries in Test cricket now and is the only New Zealand batter with more than 30 centuries in Test cricket.

When Rachin Ravindra was asked if he would like to share his POTM with Kane Williamson he denied it by hilariously saying, “Nah, not at all. He’s got 31 Test hundreds for my one so I’m not giving that one.” This was the first fifty-plus score for Rachin Ravindra in Test cricket and he made the most of it by converting it into a massive double-century.

Well played, well said#NZvSA pic.twitter.com/N043JC6HmQ

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) February 7, 2024

Also Read: Aakash Chopra fires Bazball warning to Baz and Ben Stokes on behalf of Indian batting lineup

Rachin Ravindra Performed Well In The ODI World Cup For New Zealand

Rachin Ravindra has been a great addition to the New Zealand side and he proved his worth in the ODI World Cup which was held in India during October and November in 2023.

He was the fourth-highest run-getter in the megaevent scoring 578 runs in 10 innings at an average of 64.22 which included three centuries and two half-centuries. He has been picked by the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL after his performance in the World Cup.

Rachin Ravindra also won the ICC Emerging Player of the Year 2023 award for his performance in the ODI World Cup. He made his international debut against Bangladesh in September 2021 in the T20 format and then made his red-ball debut against India at Green Park in Kanpur a couple of months later.

He made his ODI debut in 2023 against Sri Lanka at Eden Park and then made a spectacular impact in the ODI World Cup with his batting.

The second Test between New Zealand and South Africa will be played at the Seddon Park in Hamilton, commencing on February 13, Tuesday. New Zealand are the favorites to win the second Test also as the Proteas’ team is a bit inexperienced.

Also Read: Nasser Hussain wants Virat Kohli to comeback for England Tests so that James Anderson can dismiss him

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New Zealand has displaced Australia from the top spot. The Aussies are now in the 2nd spot with a PCT of 55.0. India follows them in the next spot with a PCT of 52.77. While Australia accounts for 6 wins, 3 losses, and 1 draw across 10 games, India has won 3 games, lost 2, and drawn 1 across 6 matches.

After the huge defeat against New Zealand, South Africa has moved down to the 6th spot in ICC World Test Championship points table. With 1 win and 3 defeats in 3 matches, Proteas has a win percentage of 33.33.

Above South Africa, Bangladesh and Pakistan hold 4th and 5th spots with win percentages of 50.0 and 36.33 respectively. Below is the updated ICC World Test Championship points table after NZ vs SA 1st Test.

Also Read: Watch- Jake Fraser-McGurk shows wounds after getting hit twice at same spot off Alzarri Joseph’s delivery

Updated ICC World Test Championship Points Table After NZ vs SA 1st Test

(In the ICC WTC 2023-2025, teams will get 12 points for a win, 4 for a draw, and 6 for a tie. For slow over-rates teams will lose one championship point for each over-short. Teams will be ranked on the percentage of points won.)

West Indies, England, and Sri Lanka take the last three spots in ICC World Test Championship 2023-25. West Indies have a win percentage of 33.33 while England have 25.0. Sri Lanka has 0.0 PCT with 2 defeats in 2 games.

Also Read: Shamar Joseph gets into ICC Player of the Month nominees for January as India players neglected

New Zealand defeat South Africa by 281 runs in 1st Test

Meanwhile, New Zealand grabbed a massive victory by 281 runs against South Africa in the Bay Oval Test of the ongoing series. Batting first, the home side Kiwis posted a gigantic 511-10 in 1st innings with a double ton by Rachin Ravindra. Kane Williamson slammed a century.

Later, they bowled out South Africa for just 162 with 3 wickets each by Matt Henry and Mitchell Santner. Kyle Jamieson and Rachin Ravindra hunted 2 wickets each. In the 2nd innings, Kiwis declared at 179-4, setting a mammoth 529-run target for Proteas.

Also Read: Jason Holder reveals why he opted out of Test series against Australia

Proteas succumbed to the pressure and were bowled out for just 247 and lost the match. David Bedingham slammed the most 87 runs for the visitors. Kyle Jamieson hunted 4 wickets this time. Rachin Ravindra was awarded the player-of-the-match award for his double ton and 2 wickets.

Meanwhile, New Zealand vs South Africa Test series consists of another match. Hence, South Africa can make a comeback in the next match to draw the series. They can also improve their ranks in ICC World Test Championship points table with a win in the next match. NZ vs SA 2nd Test begins on February 13 at Seddon Park in Hamilton.

The post Updated ICC World Test Championship Points Table After NZ vs SA 1st Test, WTC Table and Rankings appeared first on CricketAddictor.

Kane Williamson displayed his vintage self after South Africa had put the Kiwis to bat first on a track which has favored the batters heavily. After a crumbling start given by openers Tom Latham and Devon Conway, which saw the hosts lose 2 wickets within the 17th over, Rachin Ravindra partnered alongside Williamson to steady their ship.

The duo made a fantastic effort in the middle and after initially trying to get set, Rachin and Williamson started battering the inexperienced Proteas bowling attack. Both of them stood for a splendid 232-run partnership for the 4th wicket and shared most of the team’s eventual 1st inning total.

Kane Williamson Becomes First From His Country To Score 30 Test Tons

Kane Williamson with his 118 off 289 including 16 fours became the first batter from his country to ever score 30 Test centuries. No other batter before him in New Zealand was able to do so. In fact no Kiwi batter has even scored 20 tons and that describes just how hard it is to score runs in the longest format.

Former top-order explosive batter Ross Taylor has the 2nd most Test centuries for New Zealand with 18 tons from 2007-2022. Martin Crowe is the 3rd highest centurion for them with 17. With no other Kiwi batter getting closer to Williamson, he will probably go down as the biggest player New Zealand have ever had.

Although Kane Williamson himself will hope that someone from the current team is able to emulate him but that will require a lot of patience and a lot more Test cricket going forward. And if anyone can then it is their left-hand batter Rachin Ravindra who smacked a wonderful double hundred in the same innings that Williamson achieved his 30th and their efforts led New Zealand to post a mammoth 511.

South Africa’s inexperienced batting lineup did not produce a fitting response as they were bundled out for just 162, thanks to 3 wickets each for Matt Henry and Mitchell Santner while Kyle Jamieson and Ravindra collected a brace each.

Kane Williamson Joint 2nd Fastest Batter To Score 31 Test Tons And Also The Joint 6th Highest Test Centurion On Home Soil

Kane Williamson carried on his form in the 2nd innings with yet another century. His 109 off 132 helped him become the 2nd fastest batter alongside Aussie legend Steve Smith to score 31 Test tons in 170 innings, falling behind only to former Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar who achieved the incredible feat in 165 innings.

Moreover, the first-ever World Test Championship-winning captain also became the joint 6th highest century scorer in the world. He smacked his 18th at home in the 2nd innings and with that, he also became the 5th Blackcaps batter after Glenn Turner, Geoff Howarth, Andrew Jones, and Peter Fulton to score two centuries across innings in the same Test match.

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Kane Williamson is also an idol for many cricket fans due to his fitness and gun fielding ability. Williamson takes brilliant catches on the field and also saves a lot of runs.

In a recent video, Williamson was doing stretching ahead of the day’s play in the NZ vs SA first Test match. While Williamson was doing his stretching, he was hit by the ball with which, his teammate was practicing. Williamson seemed annoyed with the disturbance and he angrily showed the middle finger to his teammate. This came as a huge surprise to fans as Kane Williamson is a cool and humble cricketer, who avoids showing his anger on the field.

Watch: Kane Williamson loses his cool

Never interupt Kane's stretches #NZvSA pic.twitter.com/VjuHq6RC4h

— Adam Walker (@adwalks87) February 5, 2024

Winning the toss and batting first in Tauranga, New Zealand put up a brilliant first-innings score of 511 runs. The Kiwis were off to a forgettable start and lost both the openers Tom Latham and Devon Conway for 39 runs. However, Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson put up a stand of 232 runs for the third wicket. Both the batsmen played some brilliant knocks and put their team in a commanding position in the match.

On one end, Kane Williamson played an innings of 118 runs from 289 balls whereas, Rachin Ravindra slammed a brilliant double century and played a knock of 240 runs from 366 balls. Ravindra repeated his ODI heroics in the Tests as well and has proved to be a brilliant batsman for the Kiwis.

Soon after the departure of Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, and Rachin Ravindra added another 103 runs for the 4th wicket, which helped New Zealand put up a first-innings score of 511 runs.

In reply, South Africa were wrapped up for 162 runs as they fell cheaply against the Kiwi bowlers. Keegan Petersen was the highest scorer of the South African innings and played an innings of 45 runs from 132 balls. Matt Henry and Mitchell Santner picked up 3 wickets each whereas, Kyle Jamieson and Rachin Ravindra bagged 2 wickets apiece.

Batting in their second innings, New Zealand are 179/4 at the end of Day 3 and currently lead by 528 runs in the match. The current team of South Africa, lack many mainstream players such as Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram, Kagiso Rabada, and Lungi Ngidi. All these players are currently busy playing in the SA20 2024 due to which many new names are playing in the Test series against New Zealand.

The Kiwis are in a commanding position to win the match and shall do it pretty dominantly if they repeat the bowling performance that happened in the first innings. The Kiwis are the champions of the World Test Championship 2021 and will be wanting to repeat the performance in the current cycle of the world’s largest Test tournament.

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