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New Zealand vs South Africa 1st Test Predictions - Williamson to score big against inexperienced Proteas

Ralph Staniforth

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Last updated: 02 Feb 2024

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Ralph Staniforth 02 Feb 2024

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Tips for New Zealand vs South Africa 1st Test
Proteas have sent a squad of 2nd and 3rd choice players
Can the inexperienced South Africa cause the hosts problems?

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New Zealand vs South Africa test cricket

New Zealand should cruise to victory (Getty Images)

New Zealand vs South Africa Predictions

This should have been a cracking series but with the South African squad being what it is, New Zealand should cruise to victory. I am going to back Kane Williamson to pile on the runs while Neil Brand looks in good form for South Africa.

New Zealand vs South Africa Predictions
Head to Head
New Zealand Form
New Zealand Injuries & Team News
South Africa Form
South Africa Injuries & Team News

New Zealand have won 4 of their last 5 Test matches.
New Zealand’s Kane Williamson has scored 215 & 104 runs in the 1st innings of 2 of his last 3 Tests.
South Africa is made up of 2nd and 3rd choice players.
South Africa’s Neil Brand has scored 46+ runs in 3 of his 4 red ball matches.

Head to Head

South Africa have won two of their last five Tests against New Zealand. The hosts have won one and there have been two draws.

In February 2022 they last met with the Proteas winning the Test by 198 runs to level the series at 1-1. Not a single player from that South African side will feature in this match.

New Zealand Form

New Zealand come into this series having won four of their last five Test matches. They lost played a Test at the beginning of December 2023, a match they won in Bangladesh.

The Black Caps have also won their last three Test matches at home and will fancy themselves against a severely weakened South African side. In their last Test, New Zealand beat Bangladesh by four wickets in Mirpur.

It was a low scoring affair where the hosts scored 172, New Zealand responded with 180. Bangladesh were then all out for 144, leaving New Zealand to chase 138 for victory. Glenn Phillips top scored in both innings.

New Zealand Injuries & Team News

New Zealand have picked their first-choice squad and will see this as an opportunity to put huge pressure on an inexperienced opposition.

South Africa Form

South Africa have won three of their last four Test matches, all of which were at home. They lost their last Test to India on a terrible surface at Newlands. The series ended 1-1.

However, regardless of the Proteas form, that is not the talking point as it doesn’t really matter. Only two players from that squad will feature in this series.

This is not even a SA A side in reality and is more of a third string team. The series coincides with the SA20 happening in South Africa and all the top players are featuring in that tournament.

South Africa Injuries & Team News

Neil Brand makes his Test debut but will also captain the side. The only players with Test experience are David Bedingham, who has played two Tests. Keegan Petersen, Khaya Zondo, Dane Piedt, Duane Olivier and Zubayr Hamza.

It is tough to predict a side, but one would imagine the middle order will consist of David Bedingham, Keagan Petersen and Khaya Zondo. Neil Brand, Zubayr Hamza and Raynard van Tonder should be the top order.

Verdict

New Zealand v South Africa 1st Test

I am backing Kane Williamson to score 50+ runs in the first innings and to top score. He is also tipped to score 100+ runs in the match.
For South Africa, Neil Brand is backed to top score in the first innings.

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