South Africa won the toss and elected to bat in the third and final Test against New Zealand at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Saturday.
The Proteas are 1-0 up in the series and a win in Hamilton will elevate them to number two in the world rankings. However, rain is threatening to disrupt the Test with early morning drizzle delaying the start by an hour and with heavier showers forecast from Sunday, reports BSS.
South African captain Faf du Plessis, who completed a clean sweep of winning the toss in all three Tests and in the five one-dayers before that, relished the prospect of batting first and bowling last on a wicket that looked spin friendly.
“There’s spinning conditions here in Hamilton, even though it looks a tinge green and the first hour will be a little tricky,” he said.
“A draw will not sit very well with us. We’re one up in the series and we want to win another series.”
South Africa have compiled an enviable off-shore Test record having lost just one away series since 2007, to India two years ago, against 11 wins and three draws.
For injury-hit New Zealand it is the first time in 49 Tests, dating back to 2012 they have fielded a side without at least one of Tim Southee and Trent Boult in the lineup. Captain Kane Williamson said New Zealand did not mind bowling first and Matt Henry would take the new ball.
“It looks like a good surface. A little bit dryer than normal but with the overhead (conditions) we’re looking to get a bit out of it for our seamers,” he said.
“We wanted to bowl with the weather around, especially tomorrow.”
South Africa have made one change to the side that won the second Test by eight wickets with Theunis de Bruyn replacing opener Stephen Cook.
In addition to losing their two frontline bowlers, New Zealand have dropped all-rounder Jimmy Neesham in favor of the second spinner in Mitchell Santner.
