New-look sides brace for early-season clash

Friday, August 14, 2015
Start time 1800 local (1600GMT)

The wide lens is focused on March next year when the World T20 takes place. Although conditions in South Africa are entirely unlike what teams will be presented with in India, any chance to trial combinations and practice patterns of play will be welcomed, with the limited number of T20 internationals played throughout the year, especially by teams in transition.

Both South Africa and New Zealand have begun experimentation in their limited-overs games and both are plunging into the player pool searching for depth while retaining some of the members of their senior core. South Africa have AB de Villiers back in national colours, after he skipped the last two-thirds of their Bangladesh series on paternity leave and Hashim Amla back in the T20 side, but are looking at establishing a new all-rounder in the lower middle-order with David Wiese given the opportunity in this series. New Zealand's batting has the experience of Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson, but the rest of their line-up gives way to players who have not held regular places in the past - Colin Munro, James Neesham, Adam Milne - but can stake a claim to do so now.

But don't blame the fans if they are not really focused on all that. For them, this series is the starter in an all-you-can-eat-style bumper season for South Africa, who will embark on their longest tour of India and host England for a full tour, including four Tests. Those marquee series are sandwiched between a sprinkling of shorter-format matches against Antipodean opposition with New Zealand as the entree and Australia the dessert before the World T20 next year. Many things could change by the time that tournament starts but for now, all South African cricket fans care about is that the summer starts now.

(last five completed games most recent first)
South Africa WWWLL
New Zealand WLWLL

South Africans have admired Kagiso Rabada from afar but have only seen him play one international game at home. In January he went wicketless in a T20 against West Indies at Newlands and was on the receiving end of a Chris Gayle avalanche. Rabada's role in the national team has since become more prominent - he made his ODI debut and was included in the Test squad - and the signs are clear that he is considered the future. Rabada's raw pace and pinpoint precision are tailormade for South African surfaces and in early-season conditions, he will have the chance to properly announce himself at home.

The last time Kane Williamson played limited-overs cricket in South Africa, he struck a career-best 145, and was instrumental in setting up a series win. This time he returns as captain of the team in Brendon McCullum's absence and will want to combine leadership with building on his good record against South Africa. He has played just four T20s against South Africa, scored 109 runs at 36.33 (higher than his overall average of 28.72), with a top-score of 51.

Morne van Wyk was recalled to the squad after being dropped for the Bangladesh series - despite scoring a century in his last T20 appearance in January - but could be confined to the bench. Faf du Plessis confirmed AB de Villiers would open the batting and keep wicket in this format and with Hashim Amla back in the squad, there may be no room for van Wyk at the top. Without JP Duminy, who is on paternity leave, Rilee Rossouw should get an opportunity higher up in the order with Farhaan Behardien one of two allrounders in the eleven. Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel and Kyle Abbott will provide a three-pronged pace pack with space for just one spinner; either Eddie Leie or Aaron Phangiso.

South Africa: 1 AB de Villiers (wk), 2 Hashim Amla, 3 Faf du Plessis (captain), 4 Rilee Rossouw, 5 David Miller, 6 Farhaan Behardien, 7 David Wiese, 8 Kyle Abbott, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Morne Morkel, 11 Eddie Leie/Aaron Phangiso

New Zealand are missing several senior players, which has provided an opportunity for George Worker at No.3 in the line-up and could see Grant Elliot bat a position higher than usual. With Nathan McCullum providing a spin option, Ish Sodhi may have to sit out to make room for Doug Bracewell, who has joined the squad for the South Africa leg of their trip.

New Zealand: 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Kane Williamson (capt), 3 George Worker, 4 Grant Elliot, 5 Luke Ronchi (wk), 6 Colin Munro, 7 James Neesham, 8 Nathan McCullum, 9 Doug Bracewell, 10 Adam Milne, 11 Mitchell McClenaghan

Cricket has come before spring this season, which could make for interesting conditions on pitches that are only just shedding their winter coats. Durban should be the least affected venue - winter flits past the city with the casualness of a summer's day - but is expected to be spicier than usual. A green surface should greet the teams for the first T20 on what is forecast to be a mild day with no rain. Drought-hit Kwa-Zulu Natal has, in the past few seasons, had many matches affected by rain but this time the weather should hold.

"I think with the T20s people thought it was just something that since we were playing Bangladesh we should beat them comfortably but looking back at the tour, for us it was quite tough in those conditions and to have beaten them two-nil and quite convincingly, I am very proud."

"Whenever you get an opportunity to play for your country, you can push for a permanent spot but that's not how the culture works in our team. It's more about looking to contribute to a team performance, a team win and that's where we want people playing their games."