New Zealand vs Afghanistan test series
2024.09.06
New Zealand came here today in advance of its one-off Test match against Afghanistan, which is set to begin on September 9 at Greater Noida.
The Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground will host the one-off Test, which will be the first red-ball match between the two countries.
For the Test matchup with Afghanistan, the Black Caps have selected a formidable squad.
The team, which consists of players like former captain Kane Williamson (who decided not to sign a central contract earlier this year), Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, and Rachin Ravindra, will be captained by veteran pacer Tim Southee. Tom Latham will remain vice captain.
For the Test, the Black Caps have five alternatives for spin bowlers: Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner, Ajaz Patel, and part-timers Phillips and Ravindra. On Friday, they’ll have their first practice.
The World Test Championship (WTC) two-match series against Sri Lanka will be preceded by a test match against Afghanistan.
Following the trip of Sri Lanka, New Zealand will play a three-match Test series in India against Rohit Sharma‘s team, which is also scheduled as part of the WTC schedule.
In October and November, Bengaluru, Pune, and Mumbai will host the three games.
In the ICC WTC points standings, New Zealand is presently ranked third, behind Australia and India, the finalists from the previous season.
@charith Rajapaksha
