3 things to look forward to in AFG vs NZ one-off Test in Greater Noida ft. Kane Williamson's comeback
One-off Tests are slowly becoming ubiquitous which can and should be seen as a daunting sign for Test cricket. Take, for example, Afghanistan hosting New Zealand in Greater Noida from September 9.
There's so much to look forward to here, not least the fact that this would be the first international match between the teams since the Afghans cemented their name as white-ball giants by bowling the Kiwis out for 75 runs to secure a massive 84-run victory at the 2024 men's T20 World Cup.
Afghanistan are last in the ICC men's Test rankings, seven places behind New Zealand at fifth. But they are playing in their second home, India, where New Zealand have seen ages and scores of trips without any notable success in red-ball cricket.
There are so many minute, riveting, individual battles to see, not to mention they'd be at a new ground -- the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground -- where the unpredictable pitch conditions would greatly shape the narrative. But all we'd see is one Test where heavy rain is forecasted for all five days.
It's tricky. But, still, it's Test cricket and we can always squeeze out a few things to keep a special eye out on, even if we get less than five days of action. Check them here:
#3 Who will step up in Rashid Khan's absence
Despite New Zealand's struggles in India, their batters are no mucks against spin. Afghanistan would know that they can't just 'spin-to-win' against a side that includes Kane Williamson but they'd have to bowl really quality spin.
And they'd have to do that without the main man, Rashid Khan, who has been advised to rest to fully recover from the various injuries he has gone through in recent months. Rashid is the highest wicket-taker for Afghanistan in Tests with 34 scalps in five games, more than the combined figure of the second (Amir Hamza, 18 wickets) and third (Yamin Ahmadzai, 13) on that list.
Afghanistan have played three one-off Tests since 2023, all without Rashid, and they have lost all three. The first two opponents, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, managed to counter the likes of Zia-ur-Rehman, Amir Hamza, Zahir Khan and Qais Ahmed easily while Ireland's pace battery got them through in February.
Zia-ur-Rehman's left-arm spin is promising and he took a fifer against Ireland and he'd be expected to do the heavy lifting. But Afghanistan would also need Qaid and Zahir to not let him hang dry and find enough consistency to hunt in pairs.
If the match reaches the final two days, the spinners might be needed to bowl even 20-over spells which would be a big test of their endurance. If pacers give Afghanistan a good start, the responsibility of clearing up the lower order -- which Rashid would've loved -- might also fall on Zia and his fellow tweakers.
#2 New young batters for Afghanistan
This point can't be explained better than what Indian spinner, and surely a future pundit, Ravichandran Ashwin said on social media on Saturday:
"We know Afghanistan produce insane talent but the one area of solidity and stability they need is from their batting department. They have Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmat shah oozing class but not much else to follow, and that is why I am excited to see what RIAZ HASSAN and BAHIR SHAH have to offer.
"Both of them are promising and their first class averages are in excess of 55. The first signs of India’s strong future came via @YUVSTRONG12 and @MohammadKaif in the 2000’s as they came through the U-19’s, that is why these 2 players could give us a sneak peek into what Afghanistan may go on to accomplish in the next decade or so."
In simple words, solidity and stability mean big knocks which are crucial in red-ball cricket. In the three Tests since 2023 mentioned above, Afghanistan managed just one century and three other 50+ scores, while their opponents amassed five centuries and as many half-tons.
Riaz, 22, and Bahir, 24, have brilliant numbers in First-Class cricket and seem to have good techniques too. However, New Zealand's attack of Tim Southee, Mitchell Santner and Ajaz Patel, would be the toughest examination of their career by a stretch which would find every chink possible to exploit.
In the worst case, they'd come out of the Test as much better players but Afghanistan, like Ashwin, would patiently look for some clear reasons for optimism from them.
#1 Kane Williamson's return to the sub-continent ahead of India series
Since Joe Root began his Test century spree and the surge toward Sachin Tendulkar's all-time run-scoring record, all the other Fab-Four members' statistics and numbers have come into the spotlight. But like with the other three, Kane Williamson has just not played enough Tests to maintain that race with Root.
Williamson's last Test came in March. Since then, Root has played seven Tests.
Across formats, the last couple of years have been more start-stop for him than even Virat Kohli and Steve Smith due to injuries and personal commitments
So, this match could be a good start for him ahead of an important run of games for New Zealand, which would also include a Test series against India here in a few weeks. He'll also want to improve his red-ball record in India -- eight Tests, 503 runs at 33.53 with one century and three half-centuries.
Doing well against Afghanistan's determined attack in difficult conditions would bring him back to the good side of the fab-four conversations.