South Africa hunt record-equalling win in battle of two form sides
South Africa can equal their best winning run in ODIs if they secure a 12th consecutive victory in the opening match against New Zealand in Hamilton
The Preview by Andrew McGlashan
18-Feb-2017
Match Facts
February 19, 2017
Start time 2.00pm local (0100GMT)
Start time 2.00pm local (0100GMT)
Big Picture
New Zealand have seen off the No. 1 ODI side in the world this season. Now they get to try to do it all over again. Overturning Australia in the Chappell-Hadlee series knocked off their crown, with South Africa, who are one win away from equalling their best run in ODIs, taking top billing after their 5-0 whitewash against Sri Lanka. This is certainly a series between two in-form one-day sides.
South Africa laid down a marker in the T20 on Friday night at Eden Park. While neither side will dwell too much on a one-off match, there was far less for New Zealand to take from it (just Trent Boult's bowling) than for South Africa whose top order batted with intent, then the pace bowlers hustled New Zealand's top order before Imran Tahir added the finishing sparkle.
For both sides the countdown continues to the Champions Trophy. Their next one-day cricket will come on English and Irish shores in the weeks leading into the tournament, so this series offers the last realistic chance for any significant tinkering or discussion over positions. The two teams are fairly settled in ODI cricket, with perhaps a couple of pace-bowling slots up for grabs in each.
It is a quick turnaround into the opening ODI; South Africa won't mind that after a dominant performance in Auckland while New Zealand will probably feel it's not a bad thing either to be able to get straight back on the horse.
Form guide
New Zealand WWWWW (completed matches, most recent first)
South Africa WWWWW
South Africa WWWWW
In the spotlight
Ross Taylor remains the topic of much discussion in New Zealand after his absence from the T20 side. Mike Hesson, the coach and a selector, said he did not think Taylor could have made much of a difference in the T20 because there hadn't been a platform set in the chase, but there is a certainly a groundswell of opinion that it seems odd that one of the country's finest batsman is on the outer. But he's back for Hamilton and brings fine form with him after a series-clinching century against Australia. The eyesight is tip-top now, too, after surgery last year which has helped his catching.
Kagiso Rabada was rested for the T20 and South Africa managed very well without him. It's a slightly daunting prospect for New Zealand that he'll add further strength to the pace attack. He consistently discomforted the Sri Lankans in the previous series and is one away from 50 ODI wickets. In the absence of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel in one-day cricket he has quickly become South Africa's senior white-ball paceman.
Team news
New Zealand have a very different-looking top-order for ODIs with far more experience. Dean Brownlie covers for Martin Guptill's absence, as he did with success against Australia, while Taylor, Neil Broom and possibly James Neesham will stock the middle order. There will need to be a decision over whether Matt Henry or Lockie Ferguson is the third frontline quick.
New Zealand (probable) 1 Dean Brownlie, 2 Tom Latham, 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Neil Broom, 6 James Neesham, 7 Luke Ronchi (wk), 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Matt Henry, 10 Tim Southee, 11 Trent Boult
David Miller's finger injury, sustained against Sri Lanka, is not healing as well as had been hoped and he remains doubtful. Rabada can be expected to return to the pace line-up.
South Africa (probable) 1 Hashim Amla, 2 Quinton de Kock (wk), 3 Faf du Plessis, 4 AB de Villiers (capt), 5 JP Duminy, 6 Farhaan Behardein, 7 Chris Morris, 8 Wayne Parnell, 9 Andile Phehulkwayo, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Imran Tahir
Pitch and conditions
The pitch will be the same one used for the Australia ODI, which was off-centre and probably works against legspinner Ish Sodhi being part of the New Zealand side because of the shorter boundary. There is a forecast for showers, some heavy, during the early part of the afternoon. The same heavy rain which hit Auckland earlier this week went through Hamilton and how Seddon Park has coped with the deluge could be important.
Stats and trivia
- If South Africa win in Hamilton it will equal their best winning streak in ODIs which stands at 12 set in 2005. It is the second-best overall; Australia are well ahead at the top with 21
- Ross Taylor needs 51 runs to reach 6000 in ODIs. He would be the fourth New Zealand batsman to reach the milestone after Brendon McCullum, Nathan Astle and Stephen Fleming
- South Africa's likely XI - presuming Miller is unfit - has 72 ODI hundreds. New Zealand's has 28 with 16 of those from Taylor
Quotes
"It hasn't told us a lot of what we don't know. They've got really aggressive new-ball bowlers, they swing the ball from a length rather than floating it up there. From a batting point of view, from one to seven there are match-winners in there."
Mike Hesson, the New Zealand coach, says he knew South Africa would be powerful before the T20 thrashing
Mike Hesson, the New Zealand coach, says he knew South Africa would be powerful before the T20 thrashing
"It's definitely a build-up towards the Champions Trophy. The conditions are pretty similar - the ball moves around a bit when it's new and you have to extend your partnerships when you get in, so it's quite similar to the UK."
AB de Villiers knows it's time for final fine-tuning
AB de Villiers knows it's time for final fine-tuning
Andrew McGlashan is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo