South Africa have begun their tour down under and New Zealand will be the first challenge they meet. As a long-term and passionate Blackcaps supporter, I don’t need any real reason to watch these ODIs, but I realise that everyone is different and there may be those who need a little more persuasion to give this a watch.
New Zealand have been dealt some heavy blows in the recent weeks with regards to injuries. Ross Taylor will be out with a left calf injury, while young fast bowler Adam Milne is sidelined with an elbow injury. Kane Williamson will be out of the first New Zealand v South Africa ODI as he continues to deal with a wrist injury and will be reassessed once the second ODI is upon us.
However, despite losing some big names, New Zealand see the return of a few. Tom Latham and Dean Brownlie have both found themselves back in the squad along with veteran spin bowler Daniel Vettori. Vettori has been MIA for a fair number of seasons of late and lost his national contract due to his ongoing injury. However, he is fit and back to make one last push to the World Cup next year.
South Africa will also be without some familiar names, but unlike New Zealand, who can look forward to their players returning, South Africa don’t have the same luxury. While Vernon Philander makes his return to ODI cricket after falling into a rut of poor performances in both ODIs and test cricket, South Africa will need to concern themselves far more with the daunting task of rebuilding their squad without Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis.
Without these key players, South Africa have become infamous for their traditional middle order collapse; a disaster they will quickly need to rectify if they are to have any chance in the World Cup which is roughly four months away. New Zealand have shed their underdog label, going into the World Cup as one of the favourites—they may not be a top test team, but in limited overs they certainly know what they are doing—so it will be interesting to see how South Africa approach their three ODIs with this in mind.
Both teams will have their players giving their all to ensure they make the shortlist for the all-important World Cup squad, meaning we are guaranteed to be rewarded with high class and exciting cricket.
New Zealand XI: Brendon McCullum (c), Trent Boult, Martin Guptill, Tom Latham, Nathan McCullum, James Nesham, Tim Southee, Corey Anderson, Dean Brownlie, Matt Henry, Mitchell McClenaghan, Kyle Mills, Luke Ronchi (wk), Dan Vettori, Kane Williamson
South Africa XI: AB de Villiers (c), Kyle Abbott, JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, David Miller, Wayne Parnell, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (wk), Faf du Plessis, Ryan McLaren, Morne Morkel, Aaron Phangiso, Rilee Rossouw
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