Colin de Grandhomme and Matt Henry, meanwhile, returned to New Zealand’s XI
New Zealand chose to bowl v South Africa
The battle of the bowlers began at Hagley Oval with both XIs stacked with seamers as New Zealand opted to bowl first in Christchurch. The home team included four specialist quicks with Matt Henry replacing Trent Boult, who is on paternity leave, and allrounder Colin de Grandhomme completing a five-pronged pace pack. Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee and Neil Wagner make up the rest of the attack.
South Africa opted for seven specialist batters and reinstalled Zubayr Hamza, who last played a Test two years ago against England and was selected after Petersen was ruled out, at No.6. That left them without an allrounder or a specialist spinner, with neither team choosing to field a slower bowler on a greentop.
This is the first time South Africa are playing a Test at the Hagley Oval and the first time they are involved in a Test in Christchurch since 1999. New Zealand have never won a Test series against South Africa.
New Zealand: 1 Tom Latham (capt), 2 Will Young, 3 Devon Conway, 4 Henry Nicholls, 5 Daryl Mitchell, 6 Tom Blundell (wk), 7 Colin de Grandhomme, 8 Kyle Jamieson, 9 Tim Southee, 10 Neil Wagner, 11 Matt Henry
South Africa: 1 Dean Elgar (capt), 2 Sarel Erwee 3 Aiden Markram 4 Rassie van der Dussen, 5 Temba Bavuma, 6 Zubayr Hamza 7 Kyle Verreynne (wk), 8 Marco Jansen, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Glenton Stuurman, 11 Duanne Olivier
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo’s South Africa correspondent
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