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South Africa eye elusive Test win against formidable New Zealand at fortress Centurion

In their 21 Tests so far at the venue, South Africa have won as many as 16 Tests. They have lost only twice, and 3 Tests have been drawn.

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South Africa have history in their favour © Getty Images
South Africa have history in their favour © Getty Images

Since January 2015, South Africa have played 14 Tests, but have ended as the victorious side only twice. An eight-wicket thrashing of West Indies in January 2015 was their first and the only win in the year. South Africa’s next Test and their only second win in last 20 months came one year later since the victory over the Caribbean side — the 280-run hammering of England was a consolatory win since the tourists had already bagged the series in their favour. A team whose rebuilding phase has been consistently hampered by injuries to its key players, now eye a victory over a team that can match them, but not intimidate. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: South Africa vs New Zealand, 2nd Test at Centurion

But returning back to their fortress, Centurion, South Africa will take a big sigh of relief. In their 21 Tests so far at the venue, South Africa have won as many as 16 Tests. They have lost only twice, and 3 Tests have been drawn. The history is certainly in their favour. ALSO READ: SA vs NZ 2nd Test Preview & Predictions: One-Test series excites both teams

Dale Steyn was missed sorely by South Africa throughout this span. The ace pacer who still remains one of the best in the business took only 6 overs on a damp morning at Durban in the first Test to show he is back to take care of the dwindling South African fortunes. But weather and poor management at one of cricket’s famous venues robbed the cricket fans off some quality cricket, but most importantly, took a chance away from Steyn to roar back totally.

There were not many takeaways for South Africa in the first Test, which lasted only for one full day and a rain-truncated first session on the next. The South Africans were shot out for a moderate total, and looking at the way things were panning out at Kingsmead, it can be said that a low-scoring bowling-dominated Test was on the cards. However, the last week proved to be a forgettable one for Test cricket as two matches were abandoned for reasons which could have been easily controlled.

The focus shifts to the second and final Test where both the teams feel they have a chance to dominate. New Zealand’s arsenal across departments puts them only among a few other teams who can match South Africa’s firepower, and they will feel a little more hard work can hand them their first-ever series win.

New Zealand and South Africa have engaged in bilateral cricket since 1931-32, which also had a 30-year gap since the African country was banished from international cricket. However, South Africa have always ended up as the winning side and this will be an assuring as well as motivating factor for Faf du Plessis and company, who will take this win as a much-needed one to save face in their backyard.

In case South Africa end up losing this Test against New Zealand at Centurion, it will be their third straight Test series defeat. The Proteas had lost 0-3 in India and England proved to be the better side when they clashed in South Africa’s backyard. The formerly-ranked world No. 1 side South Africa will be aware of this, as not often in their cricket history since their return to international circuit have they seen as bad days as these as far as Test cricket is concerned.

South Africa will not need much tinkering with their playing XI since there were promising displays across departments. All of South Africa’s top seven batsmen got starts but failed to make it big. Stephen Cook and Dean Elgar have all the credentials to continue being South Africa’s regular openers in Test cricket, but big scores is something that has been missing so far from both these cricketers and this is where the hosts need to look into.

Hashim Amla, du Plessis and Temba Bavuma can be monsters in their backyard once set. Bavuma is one for the future for South Africa in their Test side, but at the same time, the selectors will have to be patient and the management and the captain will have to send him up in the middle-order. In the first Test, South Africa sent in JP Duminy at No. 4. Traditionally, the best batsman in the team gets that coveted position and there surely are a few contenders for the No. 4 spot in the South African Test side. To start with, interchanging the spots for Bavuma and Duminy will be healthy as it will ensure the newcomer gets ample opportunities to bat with the best batsmen in the side.

Since AB de Villiers is away for this series, the others especially Quinton de Kock, can bank on the opportunity, which was with Dane Vilas sometime back. The role of the wicketkeeper is not just limited behind the wickets, as someone who has the best seat in the house can also keep a close eye on how the wicket is behaving and help his team form their strategies.

As far as Vilas is concerned, he has been unlucky to have played at some of the toughest venues and against some relentless bowling. He did not get to bat in his debut Test at Dhaka, and remained a failure as far as batting was concerned. He was among the many South African batsmen who did not get any runs on the India tour in 2015-16, and one Test into the England series at home, he was axed. With 94 runs in 6 Tests at 10.44 and a highest of 26, Vilas’ batting credentials have seriously looked doubtful and this is where de Kock can get himself into the side as a permanent feature.

Coming back to the second and final Test at Centurion, South Africa have a strong history (home and away) against New Zealand. The Kiwis, out of the 41 Tests so far, have only won 4 times. This certainly gives South Africa the edge over their opponents going into the final Test which carries a lot of significance for both the teams. New Zealand have not won a Test series yet against South Africa, who since their re-admission in Test cricket have only lost three Test series on the trot only once. It was in 2004-05 that South Africa lost to Sri Lanka and India in away series and to England at home. Since then, they turned into an extremely formidable side that did not lose a Test series close to a decade. South Africa will surely want to get back to their dominating best, but for now, there is a Test to win.

(Devarchit Varma is senior writer with CricketCountry. He can be followed on Twitter @Devarchit)

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