Fast and bouncy Hagley Oval pitch will be perfect for Kiwis and Proteas’ quicks

If, as the Proteas’s research would suggest, the Hagley Oval in Christchurch is fast and bouncy they won’t be too perturbed because those are conditions the South Africans are accustomed to and enjoy.

Both teams have the pace armoury to thrive in such conditions, even if, in New Zealand’s case they will be without one of the spearhead’s of the attack, Trent Boult for the first Test next week. Boult will be at his wife’s side for the birth of the couple’s second child.

However the Kiwis still have Tim Southee and his 329 Test wickets, Neil Wagner with 235 wickets, Kyle Jamieson, who’s taken 22 wickets at Hagley in three Tests and the raw pace of Matt Henry which will all be a threat for the South African batters.

Situated in Hagley Park, a vast open area close to the city centre, the cricket ground is just one part of park that includes the botanical gardens and a small golf course. For New Zealand, which played it’s first Test there in 2014, it’s been a stronghold where the Black Caps have lost just once - to Australia - and registered seven wins in nine matches.

For South Africa, fresh off a series win against India, it will be another tricky examination of the upward curve they’ve been on lately. “ It’s a great test for us to match ourselves and compare ourselves to a team that is playing at their peak at the moment,” said Proteas captain Dean Elgar.

It was Elgar who led that turnaround against India’s powerful attack, producing one of the all time great innings to help South Africa win the second Test at the Wanderers. New Zealand’s bowling unit, even without Boult, is one of the game’s best and presents a different challenge to the one provided by the fiery Indians. “I say this with respect, but the New Zealand