Balancing act for Black Caps
Selecting a side is just the first battle for the Black Caps.
Trying to win the third test match will start in this morning – weather permitting – but there’s still a great deal of conjecture around just which 11 New Zealand players will be charged with that responsibility against South Africa.
The enforced absences of newball spearheads Tim Southee and Trent Boult have clouded the situation for the hosts at Seddon Park. Neil Wagner and Matt Henry seem likely to be entrusted with the new ball following the dual departures through injury over the past two days, while right-arm quick Scott Kuggeleijn is in the mix after being called in as cover.
What’s more likely than a debut for the 25-year-old from Northern Districts is the inclusion of leftarm turner Mitchell Santner to join Jeetan Patel in the spin department, with Jimmy Neesham the all-round seam option to miss out, leaving Colin de Grandhomme in the XI.
Black Caps skipper Kane Williamson wasn’t able – or willing, possibly – to shed much light on the makeup of the side a day before the test.
‘‘It is an interesting process with so many injuries to try and nut down . . . the balance we do want to go in with,’’ Williamson said.
The skipper was still trying to decipher what the Seddon Park pitch will do.
‘‘It never has a huge amount of pace but it offers a bit for the seamers,’’ he said. ‘‘That side of the block can be a little slower so there might be spin in play as well.’’
Williamson said two spinners was ‘‘an option we’re looking at due to conditions, but also due to how many people we have fit at the moment’’.
‘‘We were hopeful that Tim and Trent were going to be available, but the toll it can take on bowlers going into a test match, it just wasn’t feasible.
‘‘It did mean we were perhaps limited for the options we might have originally wanted to go in with – that’s why we want to have more of a think about it and come and have another look.’’
That’s also meant changes to the slip cordon without Southee, something Williamson was also trying to tackle.
‘‘It will have a different look,’’ he said when pressed on its configuration.
‘‘It’s not a secret, I’m just trying to remember it,’’ he said.
Opposing skipper Faf du Plessis acknowledged the absence of Southee and Boult was ‘‘a huge blow’’ for New Zealand and their chances of levelling the threematch series.
‘‘I always take reference to our own team if we lose guys like them, it’d be a huge loss,’’ du Plessis said.
‘‘Seamers that have got the numbers and experience behind them, you don’t just replace that in test cricket so it’s a massive hole that they will leave.’’
Williamson said following his side’s second-innings collapse and subsequent defeat at the Basin Reserve, an immediate response was sought.
‘‘It’s very important we bounce back, show that fight and those characteristics that this team is about, which we did fail to do in the latter half of our last game.’’
New Zealand’s chances of securing a victory may be hampered by the weather – rain is forecast to feature at least over the first three days.
Williamson deflected any thoughts that the captaincy may be taking a toll on him and that spreading that workload could be an option, although he felt a little luck may be beneficial.
‘‘I’m practising my tosses. I hope that helps my chances tomorrow,’’ he laughed. ‘‘It’s tough with the number of injuries. You do have your challenges, but you also have a number of parts that you enjoy.
‘‘I guess after a couple of years with a number of different personnel in the side, the team has taken a different shape, and therein lies a good opportunity as a unit to move forward in a strong way.
‘‘It’s been a pretty good year for us – obviously one big game left in the summer that the guys are excited to take on.’’