Ravindra gets New Zealand test call-up for South Africa series

26.01.2024 - 06:33 channelnewsasia.com

Rachin Ravindra, who was this week named ICC Emerging Player of the Year for his World Cup heroics, was included on Friday in New Zealand's test squad for next month's two-match series against South Africa.

The 24-year-old all-rounder played the last of his three tests in January 2022 but was preferred to Henry Nicholls for the series against a severely weakened Proteas team, which starts at Mount Maunganui's Bay Oval next week.Glenn Phillips looks likely to bat in the middle order with Ravindra in his first home test after returning to the longest format for the series in Bangladesh late last year.Apart from Nicholls, Ajaz Patel and Ish Sodhi are the other notable absentees, with left-armer Mitch Santner, who last played a test on home soil in 2020, the only specialist spinner in the 13-man squad.

Uncapped pace bowler Will O'Rourke will join the Tim Southee-led squad for the second test at Hamilton's Seddon Park from Feb.

13. Former captain Kane Williamson, batsman Tom Blundell and quick Kyle Jamieson, who all have hamstring issues, were selected despite doubts over their fitness. "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," said coach Gary Stead.New Zealand have never beaten South Africa in a test series and will rarely have had a better chance after the Proteas named a weakened squad featuring eight uncapped players.The series will clash with Cricket South Africa's (CSA) domestic Twenty20 competition, which is seen as vital to the future financial health of the organisation.New Zealand squad: Tim Southee (captain), Tom Blundell, Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl

cricket Features Testing 2020 Test call Kyle Jamieson Tom Latham Gary Stead Tom Blundell Devon Conway Matt Henry Tim Southee Glenn Phillips Henry Nicholls Rachin Ravindra South Africa New Zealand Bangladesh county Kane

David Bedingham scored his maiden test century as South Africa handed New Zealand a victory target of 267 on a tricky pitch on the third day of the second and final test at Hamilton's Seddon Park on Thursday.

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New Zealand vs South Africa 2nd Test, Day 2 Live Score Updates

New Zealand vs South Africa 2nd Test, Day 2 Live: All-rounders Ruan de Swardt and Shaun von Berg were leading a South African rearguard on Tuesday as they recovered to 220-6 after New Zealand had dominated the start of the second Test. De Swardt had reached his maiden half-century to be 55 not out at stumps on day one, while von Berg was on 34 on his Test debut, with the pair having combined for 70 off 27 overs in Hamilton. It represented a recovery for the tourists, who won the toss but were 64-3 at lunch and 150-6 early in the final session when key batsman David Bedingham was dismissed in freakish fashion. (LIVE SCORECARD)