Four seasons ago, New Zealand was bowled out for 45 on the first day of its previous series in South Africa, and eventually lost both Tests by an innings.
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Having been kept out of worldwide cricket for much of the last year by groin and shoulder injuries, the 33-year-old will make a welcome return to the side in the first test against New Zealand in Durban today, but acknowledged he will have to turn down the speed dial. That means New Zealand will have to showcase more skill than they did in Zimbabwe but it also means South Africa will have to do the same. He played some fine shots through the offside.
Elgar and Stephen Cook made a reasonable start as the New Zealand bowlers tried to find their lines and lengths on a Kingsmead pitch that was a bit slow and low initially in what is an unusual time to play cricket in South Africa.
But master craftsman Amla quickly got going, hitting three boundaries off Bracewell in the 19th over, and continued to score quickly through the rest of the morning.
Standing in for the injured AB de Villers, du Plessis” decision was based on a “if in doubt, back your batsmen’ theory and that confidence was rewarded in the opening salvos as Cook and Elgar safely negotiated the initial Black Caps assault.
He put on 53 in only nine overs with JP Duminy (13 not out), who survived a New Zealand review in the penultimate over before the break when he swept Mitchell Santner straight to Tom Latham at a square short-leg.
Kane Williamson called incorrectly and Faf du Plessis chose to bat in his first test in charge, only for the Kiwi skipper to reveal moments later they had wanted to bowl anyway.
Doug Bracewell replaced Ish Sodhi in the only change from the XI that won New Zealand the second Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.
New Zealand haven’t yet decided whether to play an extra spinner or seamer.
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At Kingsmead, Steyn and Philander are set to team up for the first time with Kagiso Rabada, South Africa’s 21-year-old fast-bowling phenomenon, who was named the country’s cricketer of the year last month.
