After a whitewash in the ODIs, India started the World Test Championship (WTC) series with a 10-wicket loss as New Zealand grabbed crucial WTC points. The Black Caps will eye a series win and whitewash at Christchurch where the second Test is to be played.
The onus will be on India's batsmen to counter the Kiwis bowlers on what is expected to be another spicy wicket. The Indian bowling attack, meanwhile, came inadequate at Wellington.
Watch out for:
Neil Wagner
The New Zealand seamer has a strike rate almost as good as Trent Boult in Tests for a while now. Having missed the first Test, Wagner will be itching to come back and show Kyle Jamieson that he is indispensable to the Kiwis. The hit the deck seamer will pose a completely different set of challenges to the Indian batsmen, particularly in the second half of the Test match.
Who can stop de Kock?
Australia are playing Quinton de Kock yet again, as the final T20I and the opening ODI beckons this week. South Africa have witnessed some exceptional limited-overs matches over the last month and this should continue as Australia pose as good a challenge as England. Both series have swayed back and forth and predicting a result seems impossible given the way the hosts have been playing.
Watch out for:
Quinton de Kock
The wicket-keeper batsman has been carrying the Proteas on his diminutive shoulders and has been scoring runs at a frenetic pace in limited-overs cricket. Captaincy has only spurred him on and we should see another great contest. De Kock top-scored in the Test series and ODIs against England and finished as the second highest run-scorer in the T20Is against England.
West Indies in Sri Lanka in a low profile series
West Indies started the series against Sri Lanka with a good total on board but watched in despair as Sri Lanka, courtesy a Wanindu Hasaranga special, edged home by a wicket. At home, the Lankans are a pretty good side with their spinners and bits and pieces all-rounders. West Indies, on the other hand, have seamers who can bowl cutters and slower balls and a good spinner. But their batting continues to hinge on Shai Hope's form.
Watch out for:
Wanindu Hasaranga
He had a hat-trick to his name and now has a match-winning knock with the bat also to point to. The all-rounder is more than a handful in these Sri Lankan conditions and should challenge West Indies' less than convincing batting line-up. His batting is an added bonus and Sri Lanka will hope he can consistently step up in the lower order.
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Feature image courtesy: AFP / Michael Sheehan
