The takeaways from this series, for both South Africa and New Zealand, are not what they planned, but they can’t do much when even the best laid plans go awry. However, that may not be a bad thing in the lead to the World T20, as adaptability and spontaneity will be the key on the big stage.
South Africa planned on using AB de Villiers in a new role as opener and keeper, with Hashim Amla as his partner. They could not do that because de Villiers had to captain thanks to an injury to Faf du Plessis. If du Plessis does not recover in time, de Villiers will still not be able to do that, and Morne van Wyk will get another chance to stake a claim for the World T20 spot.
New Zealand banked on their youngsters to steal the show after having rested senior players. Instead, it was their old hands, Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson, that produced the most authoritative performances in the first match with the rest barely pulling their weight. That could change more easily than South Africa’s situation, especially as the likes of Colin Munro and Tom Latham were reminded that they need to do more if New Zealand are to compete the way they wanted to.
In the end, this series may not be about putting plans in place but learning what to do when they fall apart.
Form guide
(last five completed games, most recent first)
South Africa WWWWL
New Zealand LWLWL
In the spotlight
Rilee Rossouw seems to be stealing David Miller’s thunder as a finisher in the batting line-up with Miller finding limited opportunities to score big runs in recent times. He last scored an international half-century nine ODI innings ago in South Africa’s World Cup opening game against Zimbabwe in February and has never scored a T20 fifty for South Africa. Miller will want an opportunity to prove he still comands a place in the shortest format.
Grant Elliott did not prove to be the same nemesis for South Africa in the first T20 as he was during the World Cup semi-final but that won’t be the only reason he will want to perform better in the second game. New Zealand need some muscle from their middle order and Elliott has been known to provide that in the past. As one of the senior players in a young squad, Elliot will want to assume some responsibility as New Zealand seek to level the series.
Team news
South Africa will make a late call on the availability of regular captain du Plessis, who is suffering from a knee tendon injury. De Villiers was optimistic du Plessis will be fit for the match, which will then see a shuffling of the batting order with de Villiers moving up to open and taking the gloves while van Wyk sits out. South Africa are unlikely to make any other changes unless they want to give legspinner Eddie Leie an opportunity ahead of Aaron Phangiso, who took 2 for 29 in the first T20I.
South Africa: 1 Morne van Wyk (wk)/AB de Villiers (wk), 2 Hashim Amla, 3 AB de Villiers (capt)/Faf du Plessis (capt), 4 Rilee Rossouw, 5 David Miller, 6 Farhaan Behardien, 7 David Wiese, 8 Kyle Abbott, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Morne Morkel, 11 Aaron Phangiso/Eddie Leie
New Zealand are looking for more from their middle order which could mean a place for James Neesham in the starting XI, perhaps at the expense of Munro or Latham. Their attack performed well in Durban so Matt Henry and Ben Wheeler could remain confined to the bench.
New Zealand: 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Kane Williamson (capt), 3 George Worker, 4 Colin Munro, 5 Grant Elliot, 6 Luke Ronchi (wk), 7 Tom Latham, 8 Nathan McCullum, 9 Doug Bracewell, 10 Adam Milne, 11 Mitchell McClenaghan
Pitch and conditions
The effects of winter are expected to be more noticeable in Centurion than they were in Durban, with the grass likely to show the most signs of the season. The Highveld grass generally dries up over winter which could mean a less lush outfield than normal and a pitch that could lack some life. A warm afternoon is expected under cloudless skies, with temperatures set to touch 28 degrees.
Stats and trivia
South Africa scored their highest T20 total in Centurion six years ago when they posted 241 for 6 against England in November 2009. AB de Villiers is the only member of the current squad who played in that game.
The last time New Zealand lost a two-match T20 series was in June 2012, when they were beaten in West Indies. They have since played four two match T20 series, winning two and drawing two.
Quotes
“It was a great month off at home. I was a little bit worried going into the first game, having not hit a ball for a month but I prepared really well for this series in training.
AB de Villiers took time off for the birth of his first child but didn’t seem to have lost his touch in the first match
“I was happy with the energy in the field. The boys stuck at it and tried really hard.”
Kane Williamson can take some positives out of New Zealand’s defeat
