The visitors lead the three-Test series 1-0. © AFP
Some say that time heals all wounds, but there are others that dispute that. New Zealand will find out how true it is when they face South Africa in the third Test on Saturday (March 25), having had a full week to get over the pain of their sudden loss in Wellington.
The hosts competed ably with South Africa for the first six and a half days of the series, which made their capitulation over the next two days all the more harrowing. It also didn't help that, rather than finding themselves blown away by a trademark fast-bowling performance from South Africa, they instead succumbed to the spinners.
But the extra time that the swift defeat gave them to recover should have helped, because it will have allowed some distance and a sense of perspective. Kane Williamson will be able to remind his side that they have matched their opponents for much of the series, so there is no reason why they can not turn things around.
Whether New Zealand do so or not will define their season. A series draw against South Africa would have to be considered a success - another tick to add to the whitewashes of Pakistan and Bangladesh. But a series defeat, especially a 2-0 loss, would degrade those earlier victories and would also drop them to sixth in the rankings, below Pakistan.
South Africa, meanwhile, could rise to second in the rankings if they win the series and Australia lose their final Test against India, starting the same day. That will not only be another step in the South Africa's impressive climb back up on the ladder from last August, when they started in seventh, but would also mean they receive an extra $300,000 from the ICC when the annual prize money is handed out on April 1.
It really has been some season for South Africa, who have won seven Tests, drawn two and lost one since it all began with the short series at home to New Zealand in August. That's without mentioning the ODIs, where there were 14 wins against just two defeats. Their hunger has been insatiable throughout, so while some sides may begin to flag at the end of a long summer, it is difficult to see South Africa dropping their intensity.
New Zealand will therefore need to outmanoeuvre their visitors, particularly with such a damaging injury list. The uncertainty over conditions in Hamilton could allow for an interesting tactical battle.
When: Saturday, March 25. 11:00 local time, 03:30 IST
Where: Seddon Park, Hamilton
What to expect: Much has been made of the dry, spin-friendly surfaces that the two teams played on during the one-day series, when Seddon Park hosted two matches, but the word is that New Zealand have elected to move the action to the quicker side of the block for the Test. New Zealand hosted Pakistan on that side earlier in the summer, and won late on Day 5, thanks to their seamers. This pitch is not expected to start as green, but while there may be less zip up front, Russell Domingo expects the seamers to gain reverse swing later on. There will also be some turn for the spinners so, all in all, there should be something for everyone. The bad news is that small amounts of rain are forecast for each day of the Test.
Team News
New Zealand: As if playing against an in-form South Africa side was not difficult enough, New Zealand are suffering from a terrible run of injuries. Trent Boult has joined the list of absentees, which includes Ross Taylor and Tim Southee. Mitchell Santner is expected to come back into the side to join up with fellow spinner Jeetan Patel, leaving three places available for the five seamers in the squad - Neil Wagner, Matt Henry, Colin de Grandhomme, Jimmy Neesham and fresh call-up Scott Kuggeleijn.
South Africa: Quinton de Kock's availability had been in doubt this week due to tendon damage in his right index finger, but he has been declared fit to play with the support of a specially crafted protective strapping. Although Stephen Cook, Hashim Amla and JP Duminy are all short on form, it would be a surprise if the selectors left one of them out. So the biggest decision will be whether to bring in Dane Piedt as a second specialist spinner at the expense of a seamer.
What they said:
"This is a very important game coming up for us. I don't think we will judge our season on that last game. But we might on this one." - BJ Watling.
"We have had a lot of cricket on the rest of our wicket block, so we have obviously got some used strips. But the pitch that they're going to play the match on has pretty good grass cover on it." - Seddon Park groundsman Karl Johnson tells Stuffthat the pitch will not be a "dustbowl" as some have predicted.
"We have ticked every box, won every series we've played and I saw there will be a nice little bonus for second place as well, so that will be nice to get the guys going." - Faf du Plessis on South Africa's season and the rankings.
Did you know?
- New Zealand have not played a Test without Trent Boult and Tim Southee since July 2012, when they lost to the West Indies by nine wickets in Antigua.
- New Zealand have won their last three Tests at Seddon Park. But their last Test defeat here came against South Africa during the 2012 series, in a match that ultimately decided the series.
- Seddon Park has been a result venue of late. The last nine Tests at the ground have all produced a result - a run that stretches back to 2004.
Teams (from):
New Zealand: Kane Williamson (c), Neil Broom, Colin de Grandhomme, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Jimmy Neesham, Henry Nicholls, Jeetan Patel, Jeet Raval, Mitchell Santner, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling, Scott Kuggeleijn.
South Africa: Faf du Plessis (c), Stephen Cook, Dean Elgar, Hashim Amla, JP Duminy, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Vernon Philander, Keshav Maharaj, Wayne Parnell, Kagiso Rabada, Theunis de Bruyn, Heinrich Klaasen, Morne Morkel, Dane Piedt.
© Cricbuzz
