WELLINGTON (Reuters) – Having misplaced Ross Taylor by means of retirement and common skipper Kane Williamson by means of harm, New Zealand can have their task minimize out for them once they meet South Africa within the opening match of the two-test collection in Christchurch on Thursday.
For the primary time since 2008, New Zealand are with out each Taylor and Williamson and with tempo bowler Trent Boult away on paternity depart, the hosts face an uphill battle against the touring aspect beneath Dean Elgar.
South Africa haven’t misplaced a check collection against New Zealand who have been held to a 1-1 draw by a modest Bangladesh squad final month.
Latham’s aspect have to profit from one other dwelling collection earlier than they tour England and Pakistan, however South Africa are in robust kind having overwhelmed India 2-1 of their earlier collection at dwelling.
New Zealanders have solely managed to win 4 checks against South Africa in 45 conferences since 1932, however Latham refused to be slowed down by their poor document.
“For us that is not essentially the main focus. It’s the method of really how we get there and if we do play properly then hopefully all that stuff takes care of itself,” he mentioned.
“South Africa are coming in off the again of a terrific collection win against India not way back in order that they’ll actually be a terrific aspect.”
Johannesburg-born Devon Conway will bat at quantity three in his first match against the nation of his start.
Henry Nicholls will transfer as much as quantity 4 with Daryl Mitchell, who will exchange Taylor at first slip, at 5.
Matt Henry will exchange Boult in New Zealand’s four-pronged specialist tempo assault on the Hagley Oval.
South Africa know the significance of beating New Zealand, at present the second-ranked check group, however Elgar warned against complacency.
“They’ve had success even with the fellows not round, they’ve had success with the present gamers that they’ve and we all know they’re a particularly harmful aspect of their circumstances,” Elgar informed reporters on Wednesday.
(Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; modifying by Stephen Coates)
