New Zealand begin subcontinent expedition against Afghanistan at new Test venue
Written by I Dig Sports
Big picture: Back at it after a break
Form guide
Afghanistan: LLLWL (last five Tests, most recent first)
New Zealand: LLWWW
In the spotlight: Ajaz, Williamson and Omarzai
Team news: Uncertainty over Ibrahim Zadran
Their squad is also missing familiar T20 names, such as Rahamnullah Gurbaz, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Noor Ahmad. With most of their players coming off the franchise and domestic T20 circuit, the challenge will be to adapt to the five-day format quickly.
Afghanistan (probable): 1 Abdul Malik, 2 Ibrahim Zadran/Riaz Hassan, 3 Rahmat Shah, 4 Bahir Shah, 5 Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), 6 Azmatullah Omarzai, 7 Ikram Alikhil (wk), 8 Zia-ur-Rehman, 9 Qais Ahmad/Khalil Ahmed, 10 Nijat Masood, 11 Zahir Khan
The question for New Zealand is the balance of their bowling attack for the conditions. If they choose to play only two specialist seamers, in addition to Daryl Mitchell's all-round abilities, then it could be the captain Tim Southee and one of Matt Henry, Ben Sears and Will O'Rourke. Ajaz and Mitchell Santner are the specialist spin options, with Rachin Ravindra, and one of Glenn Phillips and Michael Bracewell as the part-time spin options.
New Zealand (probable): 1 Tom Latham, 2 Devon Conway, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Rachin Ravindra, 5 Daryl Mitchell, 6 Tom Blundell (wk), 7 Glenn Phillips/Michael Bracewell, 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Tim Southee (capt), 10 Matt Henry/Ben Sears/Will O'Rourke, 11 Ajaz Patel
Pitch and conditions: Rain expected
There's been plenty of rain in Greater Noida in the lead-up to the Test, and New Zealand had to call off their practice on the eve of the match because of unfavourable ground conditions. More wet weather is expected over the week. The pitch is likely to be a black-soil surface that could assist spin more than pace, depending on the weather.
Stats and trivia
- New Zealand haven't won a Test match in India since 1988. They have lost seven of their ten Tests here since 2010. Though this fixture is not against India, a strong performance against Afghanistan's spinners could provide valuable experience for the tougher Tests ahead.
- Williamson averages 72.36 in 12 Tests since December 2022 and has scored a hundred in eight out of nine innings when he passed fifty.
- Southee has had a tough year in Test cricket, taking only two wickets against a weakened South Africa and just four against Australia at an average of 71.33 in eight innings at home in 2024. On his previous tour of India in 2021, he took eight wickets in the Kanpur Test before going wicketless in Mumbai.
Quotes
"It's tough. Six Test matches in this part of the world, you'd think spin plays a majority of the part as a bowling unit. We've got four quality pace bowlers at our disposal as well. So it's about which balance is right."
New Zealand captain Tim Southee on their team combination
"I think it's tough to be missing players like Rashid Khan because he did very well in the past for us in the Test format. So we will miss him and some other players also. But at the same time, we have other talented guys. It's an opportunity for them to make their names in the world of cricket and show their talent. Especially in Test cricket, I think if we do well then the whole world will talk about this [in a] very positive [way]."
Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi on the opportunities for his players
George Binoy is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo
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