New Zealand have soared since the appointment of Brendon McCullum as skipper. PHOTO: AFP
The first T20 is at Kingsmead in Durban on Friday and New Zealand go into the match fresh from a crushing 80-run win over Zimbabwe in a one-off match in Harare last Sunday.
The Black Caps also won a one-day series in Zimbabwe, recovering from a surprise seven-wicket defeat in the first match to win the next two convincingly.
New Zealand have come a long way since their previous visit to South Africa in 2012-13 when they were thrashed in two Test matches before coming back strongly to win a one-day series.
Coach Mike Hesson says that tour was the start of a New Zealand renaissance. “We hadn’t won a series in South Africa and we were under-strength, so to win that was a big achievement for us,” said Hesson. “That was the start of a pretty big two years, culminating in a World Cup final and the Test team moving up the rankings steadily.”
New Zealand beat South Africa by four wickets with one ball to spare in the World Cup semi-finals, but hopes of a meaningful rematch have effectively been dashed in terms of playing personnel.
McCullum has been rested for the tour together with fast-bowler Tim Southee. Injuries have ruled out Taylor, all-rounder Corey Anderson and Trent Boult, who formed a highly effective fast-bowling combination with Southee.
South Africa will be missing batsman JP Duminy and fast-bowler Morne Morkel, who are on paternity leave. Morkel will be available for the T20 games but Duminy will miss all the matches.
South Africa will seek to atone for a disappointing tour of Bangladesh, where they were beaten in a one-day series and had to settle for rain-hit draws in the two Tests.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 13th, 2015.
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