Afghanistan and New Zealand will face each other for the first time in Test cricket in a one-off contest - Reddy Anna. The match is set to take place from September 9 to 13 at the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground, India.
Preview - Reddy Anna
The Afghanistan cricket team is gearing up to face New Zealand in a historic one-off Test match, their first-ever red-ball encounter. This will also be the first Test match held at the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground, which has served as Afghanistan's adopted home venue in the past.
New Zealand comes into this match with a strong squad, featuring many players from their series against Australia earlier this year. Tim Southee will lead the side, which includes stars like Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, and Kane Williamson. For the Kiwis, this Test is crucial in their quest to qualify for the World Test Championship Final in 2025, as they currently sit third in the standings, just behind India and Australia.
Afghanistan will be hoping to make a strong statement in this contest, and the venue’s white-ball history suggests this could be a high-scoring affair. The Greater Noida Sports Complex will offer a mix of assistance for both batsmen and spinners as the match progresses.
Cricket fans can watch the action unfold live and free at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex, from September 9 to 13.
Match Details
Venue:Â Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground, Greater Noida, India
Date:Â September 9 to 13, 2024
Time:Â 9:30 AM IST
Probable Playing XI
Afghanistan
Ikram Ali Khil (wk)
Hashmatullah Shahidi (C)
Ibrahim Zadran
Rahmat Shah
Abdul Malik
Zahir Khan
Bahir Shah
Azmatullah Omarzai
Qais Ahmad
Nijat Masood
Khalil Ahmad
Bench:Â Zia-ur-Rehman Akbar, Afsar Zazai, Riaz Hussain, Shahidullah Kamal, Shamsurrahman
New Zealand
Devon Conway (wk)
Tom Latham
Tom Blundell
Rachin Ravindra
Tim Southee (C)
William O'Rourke
Mitchell Santner
Kane Williamson
Will Young
Daryl Mitchell
Glenn Phillips
Bench:Â Michael Bracewell, Matt Henry, Ajaz Patel, Ben Sears
Injury and Availability News
Both teams are expected to field full-strength squads with no injury concerns reported so far.
Pitch Report
This match will be the first-ever Test hosted at the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground, which has not seen any recent first-class fixtures. However, based on past white-ball games, expect a high-scoring contest with a pitch that is favorable to batters early on. As the match progresses, spinners could come into play and make an impact, especially in the later stages.
Pitch Stats:
Pace Bowling:Â 65%
Spin Bowling:Â 35%
Batting Pitch:Â 75%
Average Score:Â 350
Fantasy Cricket Tips
Top Picks (Batting): Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Hashmatullah Shahidi – experienced players who can anchor the innings in a Test match scenario.
Top Picks (Bowling): Tim Southee, Zahir Khan, Qais Ahmad – expected to be key wicket-takers, especially as the pitch wears out.
All-rounders: Rachin Ravindra, Azmatullah Omarzai – can contribute with both bat and ball, making them valuable fantasy picks.
With both teams at full strength and the potential for a high-scoring, competitive match, this historic clash promises to be an exciting one for cricket fans.
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