Analysis: With a second Test set to be followed by a mouth-watering series against Australia, here’s five takeaways from the Black Caps' victory.
The Black Caps have found themselves atop the World Test Championship table following a dominant 281-run win over a depleted South Africa in Mount Maunganui.
While hardly indicative of what the final standings may be in 18 months’ time, it’s a strong start to the Test summer. With a second Test set to be followed by a mouth-watering series against Australia, here’s five takeaways from the Black Caps' victory:
Despite injury concerns, Williamson still at his best
It’s been a funny couple of years for Williamson. The star batsman has missed a plethora of games due to an elbow issue, an ACL tear, and a hamstring injury, but when he has played, he’s arguably been in the best form of his career.
He has plundered six centuries in his last six Tests and has become almost god-like at home – since the start of 2020 he has averaged 96 and scored eight centuries in 10 Tests, including a century in each innings at the Mount. It's the first time he has scored two tons in a Test.
Still only 33, Williamson has plenty left to give if his body can hold together. The series against Australia will be his greatest Test in some time. Since scoring back-to-back centuries over the ditch in 2015, the Australians have had the wood over Williamson, although finding a way through the Black Caps’ star’s defence may be as difficult as ever for his trans-Tasman rivals.
As has been the case for the past decade, New Zealand’s fortunes will likely rest on how many runs their legendary batsman can churn out.
Ravindra’s bright future
The golden ascent for Rachin Ravindra continues, after blasting his maiden Test century, and carrying on to score 240 no less, in the first Test against South Africa.
Six months ago, Ravindra was seen as nothing more than potential, but he’s quickly becoming a key member of the national side in all formats.
Prior to the first Test, the 24-year-old had only scored 73 runs in three Tests, with a top score of 18. However, his early opportunities had been lower down the order and number seven and eight, and four innings came on rag turners in India where all the Black Caps batters struggled.
While still not batting in his preferred opening spot, being given the chance to bat at number four shows the huge amount of faith the selectors have in him, and also gives him the chance to shadow Williamson out in the middle.
There will be far more difficult Tests to come than what was faced at the Mount, but early returns suggest Ravindra is going to be a force for years to come. In an aging Black Caps side, the rise of a young star is just what they need.
Promising returns from Jamieson, Santner
Seeing Kyle Jamieson back to his best is great news for New Zealand cricket fans, with the tall fast bowler struggling for fitness for the best part of two years, having initially burst on to the international scene in 2020.
Jamieson took six wickets at the Mount on his long-awaited return, and while his pace was down a bit, he showed he is still a dangerous bowler.
Likewise, Mitchell Santner looked like a different bowler as he played his first Test on home soil in over three years. An excellent white ball bowler, Santner looked to bring those skills into the red ball format, bowling with accuracy and guile, and even a bit of turn, as he also took six wickets in the match.
Having both men back in form in white clothing is great news for New Zealand.
Conway’s struggle for form
One area of concern in an otherwise near-flawless performance is the form of Devon Conway. The opening batsman has failed to pass 50 in his last 18 innings across all formats and has looked far from his best all summer.
Having been trapped LBW for one in the first innings, he fought hard to grind his way to 29 in the second before holing out in the deep. It’s hard to pinpoint where exactly Conway is going wrong, apart from the fact the ball simply isn't coming out of the middle of the bat.
The Black Caps will be hoping he can find some form in the second Test in Hamilton before the Aussies come to town.
This South Africa team is a blight on Test cricket
This is not at all a dig at any of the members of this South African touring party, but at Cricket South Africa for allowing this to happen.
Put simply, this is not a Test-calibre team. The bowling attack lacks pace and potency, their best spinner is a part-timer and opening batsman, while their batting line-up leaves a lot to be desired, aside from a decent middle order with a little bit of prior experience at Test level.
This side is a result of Cricket South Africa choosing to prioritise its local T20 league over Test cricket. In doing so it has kept all its best players at home.
Duanne Olivier, Dane Paterson and Ruan de Swardt are nowhere near the quality of Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen and Anrich Nortje, who would normally be leading the pace attack. While it’s a relief for New Zealand, it’s a shame for the game and a dangerous precedent for the future if other nations decide to follow suit.
Follow the summer of cricket with TVNZ this summer.
SHARE ME