Weather has the final say in Test

KANE, FAF BOTH INSIST THEY HAVE THE EDGE Injury-hit Black Caps call up Broom and Henry to squad.

South Africa and New Zealand’s captains both claimed to have gained a psychological edge after rain washed out the final day of the first Test in Dunedin yesterday.

Despite New Zealand suffering the loss of batsman Ross Taylor for the second Test, captain Kane Williamson felt buoyed by his side being able to establish a 33-run first-innings lead.

“To put partnerships together against the very good attack they have was a good effort,” he said after play was abandoned without a ball bowled, leaving South Africa on 224/6 in their second innings, a lead of 191.

“You always want more, which never goes away no matter how many you get, but it was nice to get a little lead going into that second innings.”

Taylor, who suffered a calf tear early in his innings, has been replaced by debutant Neil Broom for the second Test which starts in Wellington on Thursday.

Pace bowler Matt Henry has also been added to the squad with Trent Boult nursing a leg injury.

South African captain Faf du Plessis felt the rain had ruined a potential victory, with the Proteas set to capitalise on New Zealand’s injury woes.

“When a Test match finishes on a day like today it’s very frustrating,” he said.

“If today was a full day of cricket, we felt with (New Zealand) one seamer down and one of their main batsmen out of the team we fancied our chances. It’s very disappointing from that point of view.

“We were 190 ahead on a wicket that was spinning quite a bit. Purely on the match position, if we got 50-60 more runs, a 250 lead and set them that in 50-60 overs, we’d fancy our chances.” – AFP

South Africa captain Faf du Plessis said yesterday he was surprised no one had been charged by the ICC after the ugly spat which blighted the Australia-India Test series.

“I was, yes. Purely from the reason of what I went through in Australia for something I feel was a lot smaller, so I’m surprised with it,” he said in Dunedin following the washed-out end to the first Test against New Zealand.

Du Plessis was fined his match fee during a Test against Australia in November for sucking on a mint and rubbing saliva into the ball. – AFP