New Zealand and South Africa will play their Second Test from tomorrow at the Seddon Park in Hamilton. The first Test was played at the University Oval in Dunedin where a possibly exciting finale on Day 5 was ruined because of rain.
The hosts have made a change to their squad with swing bowler Tim Southee dropped for this second Test. Seam bowlers Brent Arnel and Mark Gillespie would be fighting for this spot in the New Zealand XI. There is a small chance that leg-spinner Tarun Nethula could make his Test Debut tomorrow but it all depends on the pitch.
Meanwhile there are fitness concerns for the visitors with AB de Villiers likely to miss out with an ankle injury, which was sustained during a training session. Left-handed JP Duminy is likely to fill up into AB de Villiers’ shoes for tomorrow’s Test Match at Hamilton. Dale Steyn is also a doubtful starter because of a sore toe, but he is likely to ignore it for now and make himself available for the Second Test.
The pitch at the Seddon Park in Hamilton has a greenish look to it prior to the Test Match. The grass on the pitch is expected to be cut off during the morning of the Test Match. While it should assist the seamers early on, spinners could come into play if the pitch wears down under the sun.
The second Test at Hamilton will be played mostly under pleasant weather conditions. However, the fourth day of the Test Match is likely to see overcast conditions and on the fifth day, heavy rain has been predicted in the weather forecast. It will be an irony if the fifth day of the second Test at Hamilton also has the same fate like in the fifth day of the First Test at Dunedin because of heavy rain.
New Zealand Squad for Second Test at Hamilton: Ross Taylor (Captain), Brent Arnel, Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Andrew Ellis, Mark Gillespie, Martin Guptill, Chris Martin, Brendon McCullum, Tarun Nethula, Rob Nicol, Kruger Van Wyk (Wicket Keeper), Daniel Vettori, Kane Williamson
South Africa Test Squad: South Africa Test Squad: Graeme Smith (Captain), Alviro Petersen, Hashim Amla, Jacques Rudolph, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Mark Boucher (Wicket Keeper), Marchant de Lange, Imran Tahir, Morne Morkel, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn and Lonwabo Tsotsobe
Live Cricket Ball by Ball Scorecard and Commentary of the New Zealand Vs South Africa, 2nd Test at Seddon Park, Hamilton will be coming on http://www.cricwaves.com/cricket/1333/new-zealand-vs-south-africa-2nd-test-15-Mar-2012/Summary.html
