No Williamson, Taylor as New Zealand aim to break South Africa drought
New Zealand enter unfamiliar territory when the first Test against South Africa begins in Christchurch on Thursday, without batting greats Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson. It has been 14 years since the hosts started a Test without either Taylor or Williamson -- their top two all-time Test run scorers respectively -- and they have the extra burden of trying to win a series against South Africa for the first time. Taylor retired last month and Williamson is injured, leaving the Black Caps without the pair's steadying influence against a dynamic Proteas pace attack.
