NZ vs SA Match Preview- 2nd Test, 2024

The NZ vs SA 2nd Test will be played in Hamilton from February 13-17. New Zealand are leading the Test series after their win in the first Test by 281 runs. The Test series is a part of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 campaign. 

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.

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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

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