Large image: Again at it after a break
When New Zealand final performed Afghanistan, throughout the T20 World Cup in June, they suffered a defeat so catastrophic it precipitated a uncommon group-stage exit from an ICC match. That match was in Windfall, Guyana, on the opposite facet of the planet from the place the groups at the moment are for his or her first assembly in Take a look at cricket. The probably spin-friendly situations in Higher Noida, Uttar Pradesh, nevertheless, might assist bridge the gulf in expertise between these Take a look at sides.
New Zealand are enjoying their first Take a look at since March, and their first worldwide since June, and a big a part of their current cricket narrative has been about gamers turning down contracts, or taking over informal contracts, as the selection between membership and nation will get more durable. There may be not as a lot at stake on this contest – the match just isn’t a part of the World Take a look at Championship (WTC) – however New Zealand, having suffered their maiden defeat to Afghanistan this yr, will wish to begin their run of six Checks within the subcontinent over the following two months with a victory. They’re at the moment third within the WTC standings, however with two Checks in Sri Lanka and three in India arising, their prospects of ending within the prime two are powerful.
Afghanistan don’t play sufficient Take a look at cricket to be a part of the World Take a look at Championship. Their maiden fixture in opposition to New Zealand is simply their tenth Take a look at since they had been admitted to the membership in 2017. And aside from two Checks in opposition to Zimbabwe in Abu Dhabi, they’re but to play a collection longer than a one-off match. They’re additionally cricket’s nomads, with no place to name house, and have performed their first 9 Checks at eight venues – Higher Noida can be their ninth. Afghanistan have misplaced their final three Checks, and an upset of New Zealand might strengthen their declare for extra fixtures within the format.
Kind information
Afghanistan: LLLWL (final 5 Checks, most up-to-date first)New Zealand: LLWWW
Within the highlight: Ajaz, Williamson and Omarzai
Left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel has performed solely 16 Checks since his debut in 2018. With New Zealand calling on his expertise primarily once they tour Asia, he might play six extra Checks over the following two months if all goes nicely for him. The final time Ajaz, now 35, was in India in 2021, he emulated Jim Laker and Anil Kumble and have become solely the third bowler to take all ten wickets in a Take a look at innings. With 26 wickets at a mean of 23.73 in India and Sri Lanka, Ajaz can be anticipated to guide New Zealand’s spin assault in opposition to Afghanistan and past.
Seam-bowling allrounder Azmatullah Omarzai has change into an everyday for Afghanistan within the white-ball codecs and will make his Take a look at debut in opposition to New Zealand on Monday. He was spectacular in India throughout the 2023 ODI World Cup and turned out for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2024. He has restricted first-class expertise – solely 5 matches – however his capability to bat within the center order and swing the ball might assist Afghanistan with group stability.
Kane Williamson’s current Take a look at type is excellent however he would not have an ideal report within the subcontinent•Getty Photographs
Workforce information: Ibrahim Zadran injured
Afghanistan are with out their main wicket-taker Rashid Khan, who has taken a break from Take a look at cricket on medical recommendation. Ibrahim Zadran, their second-highest run-scorer within the format, has additionally been dominated out with an ankle sprain in his left leg – not just for this Take a look at but additionally for the three-match ODI collection in opposition to South Africa.*
Their squad can also be lacking acquainted T20 names, reminiscent of Rahamnullah Gurbaz, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Noor Ahmad. With most of their gamers coming off the franchise and home T20 circuit, the problem can be to adapt to the five-day format shortly.
Afghanistan (possible): 1 Abdul Malik, 2 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 query for New Zealand is the stability of their bowling assault for the situations. In the event that they select to play solely two specialist seamers, along with Daryl Mitchell’s all-round skills, then it might be the captain Tim Southee and one among Matt Henry, Ben Sears and Will O’Rourke. Ajaz and Mitchell Santner are the specialist spin choices, with Rachin Ravindra, and one among Glenn Phillips and Michael Bracewell because the part-time spin choices.
New Zealand (possible): 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 situations: Rain anticipated
Higher Noida will change into the 124th Take a look at venue on Monday, although it has hosted a complete of 11 ODIs and T20Is, all involving Afghanistan and Eire. Afghanistan have additionally performed two red-ball Intercontinental Cup matches right here in 2016 and 2017.
There’s been loads of rain in Higher Noida within the lead-up to the Take a look at, and New Zealand needed to name off their follow on the eve of the match due to unfavourable floor situations. Extra moist climate is anticipated over the week. The pitch is more likely to be a black-soil floor that would help spin greater than tempo, relying on the climate.
Stats and trivia
New Zealand have not gained a Take a look at match in India since 1988. They’ve misplaced seven of their ten Checks right here since 2010. Although this fixture just isn’t in opposition to India, a robust efficiency in opposition to Afghanistan’s spinners might present worthwhile expertise for the harder Checks forward.
Williamson averages 72.36 in 12 Checks since December 2022 and has scored 100 in eight out of 9 innings when he handed fifty.
Southee has had a tricky yr in Take a look at cricket, taking solely two wickets in opposition to a weakened South Africa and simply 4 in opposition to Australia at a mean of 71.33 in eight innings at house in 2024. On his earlier tour of India in 2021, he took eight wickets within the Kanpur Take a look at earlier than going wicketless in Mumbai.
Quotes
“It is powerful. Six Take a look at matches on this a part of the world, you’d suppose spin performs a majority of the half as a bowling unit. We have 4 high quality tempo bowlers at our disposal as nicely. So it is about which stability is true.”New Zealand captain Tim Southee on their group mixture
“I believe it is powerful to be lacking gamers like Rashid Khan as a result of he did very nicely up to now for us within the Take a look at format. So we’ll miss him and another gamers additionally. However on the similar time, now we have different gifted guys. It is a possibility for them to make their names on this planet of cricket and present their expertise. Particularly in Take a look at cricket, I believe if we do nicely then the entire world will speak about this [in a] very constructive [way].”Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi on the alternatives for his gamers
