AFG vs NZ, Only Test | Playing 11 Prediction, Preview And Live Streaming

Afghanistan and NZ to collide in a one-off Test (x.com)Afghanistan and NZ to collide in a one-off Test (x.com)

Afghanistan will ‘host’ New Zealand in a historic one-off Test match at Greater Noida between September 9 and September 13. The match marks the first-ever Test duel between the two nations, and the action is slated to commence from 10:00 AM IST onwards on each day.

AFG vs NZ, Only Test 2024: Team Previews

Afghanistan

The Afghanistan cricket team has lost each of their past three one-off Test ventures with huge margins. The last time they tasted Test success occurred way back in May 2021 when they defeated Zimbabwe in the second match to level the series. Afghanistan’s much-awaited contest against New Zealand marks their return to the Test arena after more than six months.

Rahmat Shah and opener Ibrahim Zadran will start out as some of the leading candidates with the bat owing to their stellar record at the top of the order. Both cricketers have accumulated over 500 runs each so far at healthy batting averages. The bowling department will likely be commanded by left-arm spinner Zahir Khan, especially in the absence of senior man Rashid Khan. Zahir has picked up 11 wickets so far in his five-match career. Nijat Masood will be expected to helm Afghanistan’s pace attack alongside all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai.

New Zealand

The New Zealand cricket team coped a crushing 0-2 series defeat to Australia earlier this year at home. New Zealand also tends to struggle on the dust-bowl surfaces of the sub-continent, as evidenced by their recent tours of India. The current touring party, under the leadership of fast bowler Tim Southee, will be aiming to unleash their top spin guns on Afghanistan batters at Greater Noida.

The New Zealanders will bank heavily on legendary middle-order batter Kane Williamson, who has racked up nearly 9,000 career runs and 1,098 of them in his past 10 Test appearances alone. Daryl Mitchell has also punched out handy runs with the bat, on testing conditions no less. While fast bowling department will be commanded by captain Southee and Matt Henry, it will be the spinners like Ajaz Patel, Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips who will likely hold key to the fate of the match.

AFG vs NZ, Only Test 2024: Match Details & Live Streaming

Information
Details
Date and TimeSeptember 9 to September 13, 10:00 AM IST
VenueGreater Noida Sports Complex Ground, Greater Noida
Live Streaming and BroadcastFanCode App and Website, EuroSport


AFG vs NZ, Only Test 2024: Greater Noida Pitch Report

The Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground tends to provide considerable assistance to fast bowlers with the new-ball. However, the batters can get value for their strokes upon getting settled in. The spinners will also be expected to dictate terms as the match progresses. As Indian pitches generally deteriorate for batting with the progression, it is advisable for the captain to opt to bat first after winning the toss.

AFG vs NZ, Only Test 2024: Probable Playing XIs

Afghanistan: Ibrahim Zadran, Abdul Malik, Rahmat Shah, Bahir Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Afsar Zazai (wk), Azmatullah Omarzai, Qais Ahmad, Zia-ur-Rehman, Nijat Masood and Zahir Khan.

New Zealand: Tom Latham, Will Young, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wk), Glenn Phillips, Ajaz Patel, Matt Henry, Tim Southee (c) and Ben Sears.

AFG vs NZ, Only Test 2024: Winner Prediction

New Zealand will be considered as slight favorites over spin-heavy Afghanistan line-up, even though the latter is set to be benefited with the familiarity of the surface.