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South Africa tour of New Zealand (2024)

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Cricket South Africa (CSA) has announced a 14-player squad for the next month.

Momentum Multiply Titans batter Neil Brand will captain the side that includes Test batters David Bedingham and Keegan Petersen, who are currently involved in the ongoing Betway Test series against India, along with Zubayr Hamza who has been called up for the New Year’s Test.

The experienced Khaya Zondo has also been named in the squad along with pace pair Duanne Olivier and Dane Paterson, as well as spinner Dane Piedt who will look to add to their Test caps.

Brand, who led South Africa A to a 2-1 series win over West Indies A earlier this month, is one of seven uncapped players - the others being batter Raynard van Tonder, all-rounders Ruan de Swardt and Mihlali Mpongwana, seam bowler Tshepo Moreki, spinner Shaun von Berg and wicketkeeper Clyde Fortuin.

The squad will depart for New Zealand on 19 January.

Proteas Test squad against New Zealand

Neil Brand (captain, Momentum Multiply Titans), David Bedingham (Western Province), Ruan de Swardt (North West Dragons), Clyde Fortuin (Gbets Rocks), Zubayr Hamza (DP World Lions), Tshepo Moreki (DP World Lions), Mihlali Mpongwana (Western Province), Duanne Olivier (DP World Lions), Dane Paterson (Western Province), Keegan Petersen (Gbets Rocks), Dane Piedt (ITEC Knights), Raynard van Tonder (North West Dragons), Shaun von Berg (Gbets Rocks) and Khaya Zondo (Hollywoodbets Dolphins).

Test head coach Shukri Conrad said: “Firstly I would like to congratulate the players that will be going on a Proteas tour for the first time. It is a real honour to represent your country, so they should savour the moment.

"The players picked for this tour have every chance of challenging New Zealand and we have full confidence they will do exactly that when we arrive for the first Test match at Mount Maunganui.

"Most of these guys participated in the recent 'A' series against West Indies where they showed that they have what it takes against players of international calibre. That experience will no doubt leave them in a better position for what we expect to be a testing series in New Zealand."

Management

Shukri Conrad (Head Coach), Khomotso Volvo Masubelele (Team Manager), Piet Botha (Bowling Coach), Kruger van Wyk (Fielding Coach), Imraan Khan (Batting Consultant), Matthew Reuben (Performance Analyst), Sizwe Hadebe (Physiotherapist), Runeshan Moodley (Strength and Conditioning Coach), Dr Konrad von Hagen (Team Doctor), Lucy Davey (Media Manager), Kyle Botha (Logistics and Masseur) and Zunaid Wadee (Security).

Tour itinerary

Warm-up Match

29 – 31 January at 11:00 local time
New Zealand XI vs South Africa – Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln University

Test Series

04 – 08 February at 11:00 local time
New Zealand vs South Africa – Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui

13 – 17 February at 11:00 local time
New Zealand vs South Africa – Seddon Park, Hamilton

With a new squad, can South Africa win this test series in New Zealand?
 
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It seems there are all new faces in South Africa's test squad for the New Zealand tour.
 
Neil Brand is set to become just the second player to debut as Test captain in the last 50 years (excluding country's debut Tests)
 
sweep_shot said:
I believe it is due to the domestic T20 league.
Click to expand...
Main players will play in the SA20 league instead of playing the Test match for the country!!! Sorry to say, it's poor event management from Cricket South Africa.
 
That's a disgraceful squad from SAF, more befitting an A team.

I hope SA20 is successful for their sake but don't demean international cricket like this.

This tour should've either been postponed or have another opponent flown in.
 
FearlessRoar said:
Main players will play in the SA20 league instead of playing the Test match for the country!!! Sorry to say, it's poor event management from Cricket South Africa.
Click to expand...
Why SAT20 and the Test series is happening in the same window?
 
These 2 tests series are meaningless. No series should be less than 3.
 
This is sadly a classical example of how Test cricket will be devalued by the financial lure of T20.
South Africa have a super Test side with very good bowlers and a fine batting line up.

However, the board has prioritised a domestic T20 league for (maybe understandable) financial reasons. Smith has spoken as to how the game in South Africa can’t survive without some sort of vibrant T20 competition (though you would think they could have scheduled the NZ tour accordingl).

Obviously this devalues the WTC but also hastens the end of multi country Test cricket.

One can see a time in which the only countries playing Test cricket are England and Australia, and perhaps India if the BCCI think it’s worth bothering with.
 
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Reactions: KB
One of the clearest signs yet that Test cricket is so close to dying. South Africa is choosing to send a C side squad to New Zealand because they know their domestic T20 cricket competition is much more important for their cricket’s financial survival.

The finances of Test cricket make no sense for anyone besides Australia and England and even though India also prefers the limited over formats, they can afford to just subsidize that format with all of their other revenue streams like IPL.

We are very close to Test cricket primarily only being played by the Big 3. Soon, other sides won’t be competitive either with such few quality Test matches being played.
 
Honestly, I agree with South Africa to do this. They need to focus on the T20 WC and if it means neglecting this Test Series, so be it.
 
Pathetic . these T20 leagues are destroying the international cricket . My heart is bleading when T20 cricket is priority over test cricket.
 
Reason behind South Africa's depleted squad for the New Zealand tour.

It is a smart move by South Africa to send a weaker team to New Zealand. T20 cricket is the most important format for any country, except for the Big three, who want to survive in the game.

South Africa faced backlash last year when they skipped an ODI series in Australia and jeopardized their WC qualification for SA20. But it proved to be a wise decision. SA20 was a huge hit, it is reviving cricket in South Africa and crucial for the financial well-being of players and cricket in general.

Test cricket is a privilege that only the wealthy boards can enjoy. It is likely that in the future, it will be limited to Australia, England, and India only.

It has a small fan base, which makes it difficult to market. Australia and England can sustain it because of their TV rights and ticket sales, India earn so much from IPL that they can fund Test cricket without worrying about the income. For every other board, it is a losing proposition (especially if it does not involve a tour by the Big Three).

James Anderson became a Test specialist because he could earn nearly a million US dollars/year from ECB contract and match fees. A non-Big3 team can never pay that much to its Test players.

Players outside of the Big Three are not interested in playing Tests either. If they say otherwise, it is just a pretense to respect Test cricket. Every aspiring cricketer is looking for contracts in the T20 leagues. And any current non-Big3 player who thinks he is a Test specialist is because he lacks the skill to perform in the shorter formats.

It is not realistic to expect that teams like Pakistan, South Africa, West Indies, Sri Lanka etc will be able to challenge Australia, England and India in Test cricket in the coming years. ODIs are also doomed. So, the only format where they can compete is T20s and it should be their priority.

Change is inevitable in life and cricket is shifting towards shorter versions. The sooner you accept that T20 will be the ultimate, the better it will be for you.
 
Markhor said:
That's a disgraceful squad from SAF, more befitting an A team.

I hope SA20 is successful for their sake but don't demean international cricket like this.

This tour should've either been postponed or have another opponent flown in.
Click to expand...
This is the future of Test cricket. Absolutely nobody wants to play it anymore apart from Big 3.

Faster everyone accepts it, the better.
 
South African players preferring some t20 league instead of representing their country is very shocking. International duty should be the number 1 thing for any player but these t20 leagues involve more money so I would say that Money won over cricket. Kiwis should give them the thrashing of their lives now. This new and weak squad will pose no big challenge for the Black Caps.
 
Between the last test v India and the 1st test v New Zealand (fresh captain selected for squad)there would be 3 different SA test captains. As Elgar has been named captain for his farewell test v India. Some sort of record pending?
 
The way these T20 leagues are growing, all teams must now have specialist Test and T20 players. But then with the money offered in T20's, no one would like to play Tests only...unless he is Pujara.

I really get bored with all these T20s. Many who enjoy it are young new fans of the game. After a decade or so they too would get tired of it...and then the ICC and cricket boards would create a new silly format.
 
Western Province batter Edward Moore has been added to the Proteas Test squad for the two-match series against New Zealand.

The 30-year-old has so far amassed 414 runs at an average of 51.75 in this season’s Division 1 CSA 4-Day Series. The opening batter twice recorded hundreds against AET Tuskers and the Momentum Multiply Titans respectively.

Overall, he has played 117 first-class matches and has a run tally of nearly 8 000, including 17 hundreds and a career-best of 228.

The squad will depart for New Zealand from OR Tambo International Airport on Friday, 19 January. Captain Neil Brand, along with two players, will be made available for a departure media opportunity at the InterContinental hotel at 13:30.

Proteas Test squad against New Zealand

Neil Brand (captain, Momentum Multiply Titans), David Bedingham (Western Province), Ruan de Swardt (North West Dragons), Clyde Fortuin (Gbets Rocks), Zubayr Hamza (DP World Lions), Edward Moore (Western Province), Tshepo Moreki (DP World Lions), Mihlali Mpongwana (Western Province), Duanne Olivier (DP World Lions), Dane Paterson (Western Province), Keegan Petersen (Gbets Rocks), Dane Piedt (ITEC Knights), Raynard van Tonder (North West Dragons), Shaun von Berg (Gbets Rocks) and Khaya Zondo (Hollywoodbets Dolphins).​
 
Ravindra set for new Test role | O’Rourke earns maiden Test squad selection

Rachin Ravindra is set to play his first Test at home since 2022 after being selected in the BLACKCAPS Test squad to face South Africa.

Hard on the heels of winning the ICC’s Emerging Player of the Year award, Ravindra has been named in the BLACKCAPS squad for the two match Tegel Test series against the Proteas, starting next week at Tauranga’s Bay Oval.

The 24 year-old had previously made his Test debut in 2021-22 against India at Kanpur, adding another cap at Mumbai before returning to New Zealand to play in that summer’s opening Test against Bangladesh.

Having been brought into the line-up for Henry Nicholls, he is set to bat in the middle order for the first time in his Test career, with Will Young providing batting cover.

Ravindra will be joined in the BLACKCAPS squad by Glenn Phillips, who is line to play his first Test on home soil after making his debut against Australia in 2019-20 and playing in both Tests on the early season tour to Bangladesh.

He was Player of the Match in the BLACKCAPS’ most recent Test - the four-wicket win at Mirpur.

A squad of 13 will assemble for each Test, with pace bowler Will O’Rourke joining the squad for the second match at Hamilton’s Seddon Park, and one player coming out of the squad from Tauranga.

O’Rourke’s elevation follows his selection in the New Zealand A side for the four-day “Tests” against Australia A, and his recent ODI debut.

Allrounder Mitch Santner also retains his place in the squad following on from strong contributions with ball and bat in Bangladesh.

If selected in the eleven, it will be his first Test at home since 2020.

Ajaz Patel and Ish Sodhi are the other members of the Bangladesh touring squad not included, with the selection group seeking a different balance for the conditions expected.

BLACKCAPS head coach Gary Stead said naming the first Test squad of the season was always an exciting time.

“It’s an honour to be involved in any Test match and I know the players are looking forward to the start of a big Test summer - in what is a big year of Test cricket home and away.

“The Proteas are a highly competitive team across formats and, having never won a Test series against them home or away, we expect two stern challenges.”

Stead said the squad was a challenging one to pick, with a number of players putting their hands up, and conditions to consider.

“It was pleasing as a selector to see different players making contributions during the recent series in Bangladesh.

“Glenn and Mitch both earned selection on the back of their recent work in red ball cricket.

“They continue to work on their games to contribute across formats and situations.”

He said it was exciting to have such a range of experience and options in the group.

“Will O’Rourke has impressed us in stepping up from domestic cricket to New Zealand A and then international level.

“Rachin Ravindra is another player who has really impressed us with his contributions to the team over the past 12 months in international cricket.

“We’ve been particularly pleased with his ability to adapt and learn in different roles.”

Stead acknowledged that some tough calls had to be made, including leaving out Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel and Ish Sodhi.

“All three players have made strong contributions to Test-winning performances over the past 14 months.

“But we believe we’ve struck a good balance between experience, and providing opportunities for newer players.”

He noted that, while several players in the squad had missed cricket recently due to injury, all were tracking positively for the series opener.

“Tom Blundell, Kyle Jamieson and Kane Williamson are all at slightly different points in their rehabilitation plans. But we’re confident they’ll be good to go at Bay Oval.”

BLACKCAPS Tegel Test Series Squad

Tim Southee (C, Northern Districts)
Tom Blundell (WK, Wellington Firebirds)
Devon Conway (Wellington Firebirds)
Matt Henry (Canterbury)
Kyle Jamieson (Canterbury)
Tom Latham (Canterbury)
Daryl Mitchell (Canterbury)
Will O’Rourke* (Canterbury, Squad for second Test only)
Glenn Phillips (Otago Volts)
Rachin Ravindra (Wellington Firebirds)
Mitch Santner (Northern Districts)
Neil Wagner (Northern Districts)
Kane Williamson (Northern Districts)
Will Young (Central Stags)
*Potential debut

BLACKCAPS head coach Gary Stead will be joined for the series by batting coach Luke Ronchi, bowling coach Kyle Mills - with support from NZC high-performance network coach, Dean Brownlie.

The squad assembles in Tauranga on Thursday February 1 ahead of the first Test at Bay Oval starting on Sunday, February 4.
 
Kyle Jamieson will continue his return from a hamstring injury in a New Zealand XI to face South Africa at Bert Sutcliffe Oval.

Jamieson, who was yesterday named in the BLACKCAPS Test Squad for the Tegel Test Series against South Africa, will join the NZ XI team for a day in the field during next week’s three-day warm-up match in Lincoln.

With Dream11 Super Smash fixtures taking precedence, the squad features a higher proportion of Otago players, including two with others with BLACKCAPS experience: Jacob Duffy and Dean Foxcroft.

The squad will be captained by Northern Districts batsman Bharat Popli while NZC High Performance Network coach Bob Carter will lead the coaching group, with assistance from Auckland Hearts coach Rob Nicol and Cantebury Magicians assistant coach Fred Anderson.

New Zealand XI Squad

Bharat Popli (C)
Matt Boyle
Leo Carter
Max Chu (WK)
Jacob Cumming
Sean Davey
Jacob Duffy
Dean Foxcroft
Luke Georgeson
Jake Gibson
Kyle Jamieson*
Ben Lockrose
Michael Snedden
*To be included on a bowling/fielding day

The red ball warm-up match starts on Monday at Lincoln’s Bert Sutcliffe Oval.
 
Williamson looks to South Africa Tests for crucial WTC advantage

New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson has declared himself fit for the upcoming Test series against South Africa that will be a part of the World Test Championship.

Presently at the third spot in the WTC25 points table, the Black Caps can gain significantly if they manage to do well against South Africa.

Despite the relative inexperience of the South African squad, which features seven uncapped players, Williamson believes that it would be a strong contest.

"We are under no illusions that it is going to be a tough contest for sure. They are all very good players and we just want to keep bringing the focus back to our cricket."

Williamson added that New Zealand, who have never won a Test series against South Africa, will focus on playing their brand of cricket to gain crucial WTC points.

"Any win anywhere is crucial. That's why it is difficult to micro-manage a Test championship campaign.

"It's such a long period of time, and the games can come a bit sporadically with the Test cricket. So it's trying to just connect together as a group, and focus on the cricket that we want to play. That gives us the best chance [to win] and try and do that for long periods of time. That's the focus going into the series."

Williamson, who has had his fair share of injuries recently, is ready to feature in the upcoming two-Test encounter against South Africa.

Williamson missed out the final leg of the T20I series against Pakistan last month due to an injury to his right hamstring.

The issue was in the same leg in which he had suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, an injury that had kept him out of cricketing action for almost six months in 2023.

However, the New Zealand captain is confident about his fitness now.

"My hamstring is good, it's progressed well in the last couple of weeks," Williamson added. "Feeling good, and looking forward to getting back to training and joining up with the team. The weather has been incredible.

"Extremely hot, so yes, I am confident. And like I said will just be nice to join back up with the side and I think all the guys are really looking forward to getting back together as a Test team."

Williamson's injury isn't the only concern in the New Zealand ranks. Kyle Jamieson is coming back off a lower back injury, while Tom Blundell is returning from a hamstring injury.

"I just saw them in the lunch room, and they looked comfortable eating well and I think they are fine.

"Obviously with these injuries, they can vary a lot from individual to individual and Tom with his hamstring took a little bit longer having tendon involved. I think he is good, rearing to go and Kyle bowled a spell a few days ago and I think got through nicely. I think everyone is fit and well."


ICC
 
1st Test, Mount Maunganui: South Africa won the toss and elected to bowl first.


New Zealand (Playing XI): Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell(w), Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee(c), Matt Henry

South Africa (Playing XI): Neil Brand(c), Edward Moore, Raynard van Tonder, Zubayr Hamza, David Bedingham, Keegan Petersen, Ruan de Swardt, Clyde Fortuin(w), Duanne Olivier, Tshepo Moreki, Dane Paterson
 
Score Updates

Nz 32/1 after 12 overs against South Africa in the first Test between them.
 
Excruciatingly painful to watch the progress of the match. To what is already a joke of a test match with what, six debutants? Just puts you to sleep. Further taking fans away from tests and toward T20.
 
Moreki is pretty rapid.

His domestic performances haven't looked good however he has done well in A tours. Interesting selection.
 
U$ofA said:
Excruciatingly painful to watch the progress of the match. To what is already a joke of a test match with what, six debutants? Just puts you to sleep. Further taking fans away from tests and toward T20.
Click to expand...

I see nothing wrong with this game.

NZ - 125/2 (52 overs).

Proper Test match.
 
sweep_shot said:
I see nothing wrong with this game.

NZ - 125/2 (52 overs).

Proper Test match.
Click to expand...
But this has people turning off streaming and switch channels on TV's. To add to that, there is a sparce crowd at the ground. So, for sure there is something wrong.
 
Kane and rachin are playing beautifully here. That SA attack is so clueless. They got no real venom in them/.
 
Both Batters are into the 90s now. Brilliant so far. NZ is 215/2 atm
 
If I am not wrong, NZ have never won a Test series against South Africa (it was always a drawn series or a South African win). This series is an opportunity to break that streak.
 
sweep_shot said:
If I am not wrong, NZ have never won a home series against South Africa (it was always a drawn series or a South African win). This series is an opportunity to break that streak.
Click to expand...
They have never won a series against South Africa, home or away.
 
Stumps on Day 1 of the Test match. New Zealand is looking strong and up for a big 1st innings score. Run-rate was not that much, just 3 runs per over.

vfpglTi.jpeg
 
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U$ofA said:
But this has people turning off streaming and switch channels on TV's. To add to that, there is a sparce crowd at the ground. So, for sure there is something wrong.
Click to expand...
3RPO is fine for day 1 of a test, especially on a pitch where it's only going to get easier to bat. The sparse crowd is more due to the feeble nature of the SA side. The test match at Wellington v Australia has sold out for days 1-4 and there are only a handful of seats left for the second test at Christchurch.
 
Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra centuries help Black Caps grind down South Africa

At Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui: Black Caps 258-2 in 86 overs (Rachin Ravindra 118no, Kane Williamson 112no) met South Africa

Centuries to Black Caps master Kane Williamson and apprentice Rachin Ravindra left them on top after an attritional first day in the first test against South Africa.

The pair walked off Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui at the end of play on Sunday with their 219-run partnership for the third wicket still unbroken.

Having been sent in by the touring Proteas, who named six debutants alongside five others with a combined total of just 37 caps, New Zealand were 258-2.

Williamson was not out on 112 off 259 balls, having made his 30th test century, while Ravindra – playing his first test in two years – was not out on 118 off 211 – the first of what will undoubtedly be many hundreds at this level.

Ravindra said that when he reached his century, Williamson “was like, congratulations, mate. You’re unbelievable.

“And I was like, man, no, Kane, you are, seriously.

“It’s always special receiving those things from a guy who’s one of the best batters in the world and it was cool to share that moment with him.”

The run rate sat below 2.5 runs per over for most of the day, which meant there wasn’t much of a spectacle until the Kiwi pair closed in on their hundreds in the final hour.

Not helping was the fact that South Africa left four overs unbowled, even after half an hour of overtime.

Debutant captain Neil Brand backed his four seamers after winning the toss and choosing to bowl, only turning to his own left-arm spin midway through the final session.

Williamson was the first Black Cap to reach three figures – for the fifth time in six tests and for the seventh time in eight tests on home soil – pulling Tshepo Moreki for four in the 79th over to bring up the milestone off 241 balls.

Ravindra got there in the 80th over off 189 balls, flicking Dane Paterson to deep square leg for two with the clock on the verge of ticking past 6pm and the new ball imminent.

Half an hour later – more than five hours after they came together at the crease – they walked off together, knowing they both now have a chance to go big on day two.

Kane Williamson made his 30th test century for the Black Caps on the first day of the first test against South Africa at Bay Oval.

Wicket-taking opportunities were rare once the pair were at the crease and those that did eventuate were largely of the unforced variety.

Williamson offered one up when he decided to charge down the wicket on 45, only for Edward Moore to make a hash of the attempted catch running back at cover.

Ravindra had an inside edge flash past his stumps early on, while on 80 he pulled one that went in and out of Duanne Olivier’s hands at deep square leg.

South Africa at least made a bright start, as Moreki trapped Devon Conway LBW for one with his first ball in test cricket.

Paterson then induced an outside edge from Tom Latham to remove him for 20 and leave the Black Caps 39-2 after 17 overs.

At tea, the hosts were 125-2 after 52 overs and on pace to produce their equal-slowest first innings in a home test this century.

Their rate of 2.40 runs per over in the first two sessions matched that from the win over Sri Lanka in Christchurch in 2006, where they made 206 in 85.2 overs on their way to a five-wicket win.

Things picked up significantly in the final session, where they added 65 in 19 overs before drinks, then put on another 68 in 15 overs before the close of play.

South Africa’s makeshift team, hampered by their board’s prioritisation of the SA20 Twenty20 competition and missing 10 of the playing XI from their last test, had been building towards this day for a while.

Now they know just how much of a grind test cricket can be.

When Williamson and Ravindra resume on Monday morning, we will see how well the tourists can bounce back.
​

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz www.stuff.co.nz
 
I just checked the scorecard...
Sorry who are the kiwis playing against?
 
NZ are accelerating now.

NZ - 415/5 (132.3 overs).

Rachin is on 209*. Can he get a triple century? Only one Kiwi batter has scored a triple Century in Test (Brendon McCullum).
 
Duane Olivier is one of the most pathetic pacers going around now lol

Speeds as slow as Kemar Roach and Philander these days
 
sweep_shot said:
NZ are accelerating now.

NZ - 415/5 (132.3 overs).

Rachin is on 209*. Can he get a triple century? Only one Kiwi batter has scored a triple Century in Test (Brendon McCullum).
Click to expand...
NZ will probably want to declare a short while after the tea break, so I doubt he'll have time.
 
Bahnz said:
NZ will probably want to declare a short while after the tea break, so I doubt he'll have time.
Click to expand...

I think NZ may declare 1 hour before Stumps (1 hour after Tea).

So, Rachin probably has about 80-90 minutes to get it (if he can accelerate hard and doesn't get out).
 
South Africa in trouble

RSA 29/2 (12.5) CRR: 2.26
Day 2: 3rd Session - South Africa trail by 482 runs
 
Bahnz said:
3RPO is fine for day 1 of a test, especially on a pitch where it's only going to get easier to bat. The sparse crowd is more due to the feeble nature of the SA side. The test match at Wellington v Australia has sold out for days 1-4 and there are only a handful of seats left for the second test at Christchurch.
Click to expand...
You have just stated another reason why people are moving away from tests. You cannot just have Ind, Aus, Eng to prop up test cricket. It will and is a recipe for the death of tests.

The look at Aus vs Ind, look at the Ashes, look, Ind is touring and everything is sold out type examples are given all the time. Not good enough to sustain. And it clearly shows.
 
RSA 80/4 at stumps at the end of Day 2 of the Test match against New Zealand. They still trail by 431 runs.
=====

Black Caps vs South Africa: Ravindra, Jamieson put hosts in box seat

First test, Bay Oval: New Zealand 511 (Rachin Ravindra 240; Neil Brand 6-119) versus South Africa 80-4 (Kyle Jamieson 2-21).

Rachin Ravindra set it up, Kyle Jamieson started knocking it down.

The Black Caps took another stride towards their target of winning the first test against South Africa by again coming out on top on day two in Mount Maunganui.

At stumps, the visitors were 80-4 in their first innings - still trailing New Zealand by 431, after Ravindra’s double century helped them reach 511 batting first.

Jamieson, who returned to the test arena late last year after more than a year sidelined by a back stress fracture, made a double breakthrough to begin the Black Caps’ quest for 20 wickets.

New Zealand could have been even better-placed had David Bedingham not been dropped by Matt Henry at fine leg off Jamieson when on 14, with South Africa 58-3.

Rachin Ravindra made a double ton for the Black Caps on day two of the first test against South Africa at Bay Oval.

Earlier, in just his fourth test match - and after a two-year absence from the red-ball team - Ravindra turned his maiden test ton from day one into 240, compiled from 366 balls and featuring 26 fours and three sixes.

Ravindra entered the first test of the home summer with a previous highest test score of 18.

He ended the first innings with the highest maiden test century by a NZ men’s batter, surpassing Mathew Sinclair’s 214 on debut against the West Indies in 1999.

Only 11 players in men’s tests have turned their maiden test century into a bigger tally than his 240, and it also became his highest first-class score - better than the 217 recorded in his sole game for Durham in UK county cricket when drafted in as a late call-up to replace Keegan Petersen - playing for the opposition in this test.

While the 24-year-old didn’t have Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, Anrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi to deal with, he still had to stay focused against a disciplined unit.

He was able to let loose after reaching his double ton, with a remarkable ‘Pelican’ shot off one leg through extra-cover the most memorable of his 29 boundaries.
 
I have to admit that I don't recognize a single South African player in the playing eleven, never heard about them. Where are Markram, Ngidi, Nortje, Rabada etc?
 
Further proof Test cricket is dead outside of Big 3 nations .

Nobody cares about either this or the AFG-SL series.
 
IAJ said:
I have to admit that I don't recognize a single South African player in the playing eleven, never heard about them. Where are Markram, Ngidi, Nortje, Rabada etc?
Click to expand...

SA are fielding a depleted side (6 debutants). It is because of their domestic T20 franchise league. Players decided to play there.
 
South Africa (D team that made fun of this format) got out on 162 in the 1st innings and now in the 2nd innings, NZ is leading by 416 runs, as they are 68/1.

They deserve it though.
 
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NZ - 64/1 (20 overs).

NZ are leading by 413 runs.

Will Williamson get another century? He already scored one in 1st innings. He is on 42* now.
 
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