NZ vs SA, 1st Test | Playing 11 Prediction, Cricket Tips, Preview & Live Streaming

The series will be played for the Tangiwai Shield [X.com]

New Zealand host South Africa for the first Test of the much-anticipated two-match Test series in Mount Maunganui from Sunday (February 4). The dominant Kiwis collide with an understrength Proteas outfit and aim for their maiden Test series win against them since the latter's return to the game post-apartheid. 

Despite facing a South African side that has lost a plethora of first-team regulars to the second edition of the SA20 League, the BlackCaps have the history staked against them, having never defeated the Proteas in a Test series home or away. The upcoming series presents Tim Southee's men a great chance to finally upstage the historic nemesis. 

NZ vs SA: Team Previews 

New Zealand

New Zealand's decision to drop the struggling Henry Nicholls came up for much discussion and debate as the BlackCaps acted upon the left-hander's poor outing in Bangladesh and brought in young Rachin Ravindra in their line-up.

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Ravindra, a rising young left-hand batter and effective part-time spinner, joins hands with Glenn Phillips and Mitchell Santner in a trio of utility allround picks giving New Zealand batting muscle and depth in either department. 

Of course, much of the Kiwis' fortunes would rest on their established men. While batting great Kane Williamson, dependable opener Devon Conway and in-form Daryl Mitchell will be key to the batting unit, the bowling unit will bank upon skipper Southee and his veteran partner Neil Wagner to provide substance and ease life for comeback men Kyle Jamieson and Matt Henry. 

South Africa 

Given the talent exodus they've undergone as a forced compromise for this assignment of the 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, it's clear that South Africa would aim for something beyond their immediate fortunes against the BlackCaps. 

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Having backed an entirely second-string squad, the Proteas require their fringe players and those from the first-choice XI who have committed to the Test series to come up with performances that inspire confidence and give a solid account of their potential longevity. 

Keegan Petersen and David Bedingham are two players South Africa would hope can farm strike for long hauls in the middle-order and allow raw talented players such as Zubayr Hamzam, Raynard van Tonder, Khaya Zondo and stand-in captain Neil Brand to ease into their roles. The bowling department will depend heavily on tall seamer Duanne Olivier.

NZ vs SA: Match Details & Live Streaming

NZ vs SA: Bay Oval Pitch Report

Pitches in New Zealand have a pattern where the curators are forced to leave excess grass on the tracks to make sure bowlers get an upper hand early in the Test match before the nation's cold breeze completely wipes out the moisture from the surface while still keeping the surface true to ease it for the batters up to extremes on Days 3, 4 and 5. Unlike the rest of the world, the surfaces in the Kiwiland don't break open. They keep getting flatter as the Test match progresses. 

NZ vs SA: Probable Playing XIs

New Zealand: Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Tom Blundell (wk), Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee (c), Kyle Jamieson, Neil Wagner

South Africa: Zubayr Hamza, Khaya Zondo, Raynard van Tonder, Keegan Petersen, Neil Brand (c), David Bedingham, Clyde Fortuin (wk), Duanne Olivier, Dane Paterson, Dane Peidt, Mihlali Mpongwana 

NZ vs SA: Cricket Exchange Fantasy Tips 

NZ vs SA: Winning Prediction

New Zealand are overwhelming favourites to reverse the history against South Africa in this series. The understrength South Africans would've done well if they give the dominant hosts a tough contest. 

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