Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground Pitch Report For AFG Vs NZ One-Off Test

Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground [X]Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground [X]

On Monday, Afghanistan will lock horns with New Zealand in a one-off Test match at Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground. This match holds historic importance, with the Afghans hosting the BlackCaps for the first time in Test cricket. The game kicks off at 9.30 AM IST and can be watched live on FanCode's official app and website. 

Led by experienced batter Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afghanistan recently released a formidable squad for this Test match. Barring the skipper, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah and Ikram AliKhil will be key batters for the hosts, with Qais Ahmad, Zahir Khan and Zia-ur-Rahman spearheading their bowling attack. The eyes will also be on Azmatullah Omarzai, who can be a threat to New Zealand due to his incredible all-round attributes. 

Meanwhile, New Zealand will aim to move up in the World Test Championship points table and boost their chances for a wildcard entry to the final. Under Tim Southee's leadership, the Kiwis have a robust batting line-up, studded with Kane Williamson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell, who can frustrate the Afghans with their grit and determination. While Rachin Ravindra's all-round prowess will be on display, Matt Henry and William O'Rourke could also be challenging to face for the host batters. 

So, as the stage is set for an epic showdown, let's see how the pitch at Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground will behave throughout the contest. 

Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground Pitch Report

The surface at Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground might offer a hint of lateral movement to the fast bowlers, especially on the first day. However, as the game progresses, the track will likely become better for batting. 

While the batters will enjoy the deck's pace and bounce to score runs, the spinners will also get substantial assistance from the second day onwards. The pitches in India generally deteriorate with the progression of a Test match. So, it is advisable for the toss-winner to bat first and put runs on the board.