New Zealand Gears Up for Historic Test Match Against Afghanistan

New Zealand's cricket team arrived in Greater Noida for their historic one-off Test against Afghanistan. This match, marking the first red-ball game between the teams, will serve as preparation for upcoming series against Sri Lanka and India. Veteran pacer Tim Southee will lead the BlackCaps, featuring key players like Kane Williamson.

New Zealand's cricket team arrived in Greater Noida on Thursday ahead of their historic one-off Test against Afghanistan. Scheduled to begin on September 9, this match will be the first red-ball fixture between the two nations.

The Test will take place at the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground, and New Zealand has named a strong squad for the occasion. Veteran pacer Tim Southee will lead the team, which includes former captain Kane Williamson, opting out of a central contract earlier this year. Other key players include Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, and Rachin Ravindra, with Tom Latham serving as vice-captain.

The BlackCaps have bolstered their squad with five spin bowling options: Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner, Ajaz Patel, and part-timers Phillips and Ravindra. They are slated to hold their first practice session on Friday. This match against Afghanistan also serves as preparation for their two-match series against Sri Lanka, part of the World Test Championship. Following the tour of Sri Lanka, New Zealand will head back to India for a three-match Test series against Rohit Sharma's team, also a part of the WTC calendar, with games in Bengaluru, Pune, and Mumbai in October and November. Currently, New Zealand is third in the ICC WTC points table, trailing India and Australia.

(With inputs from agencies.)