New Zealand captain Ross Taylor won the toss and chose to field after a
wet outfield delayed play by three-and-a-half hours in Wellington. A
green-tinged Basin Reserve surface will encourage New Zealand despite
them naming only three fast bowlers, as they need to win the final Test
of the home summer to salvage a series draw.
The hosts opted to bolster their batting after failing to breach 200 in
either innings in Hamilton, with seam bowler Brent Arnel making way for
Dean Brownlie, who returns from injury.
Daniel Flynn's prolific first-class season has earned him a Test recall
after two years out of the side and although he bats in the middle order
for his province, he is likely to step into the opener's position left
vacant by the struggling Rob Nicol.
South Africa, meanwhile, have named an all-pace attack with Imran Tahir
making way for Marchant de Lange. The tactic is an interesting one,
given the conditions at the Basin Reserve, where a spinner is
traditionally named to bowl into the howling northerly wind. But with
Jacques Kallis also unavailable with a stiff neck, the visitors have
strengthened their fast-bowling stocks for the seam-friendly pitch. JP
Duminy slots into the middle order in Kallis' place.
New Zealand:1. Martin Guptill, 2. Daniel Flynn, 3. Brendon McCullum, 4. Ross Taylor (capt), 5. Kane Williamson, 6. Dean Brownlie, 7. Daniel Vettori, 8. Kruger van Wyk (wk), 9. Doug Bracewell, 10. Mark Gillespie, 11. Chris Martin
South Africa: 1. Graeme Smith (capt), 2. Alviro Petersen, 3. Hashim Amla, 4.AB de Villiers, 5. JP Duminy, 6. Jacques Rudolph, 7. Mark Boucher (wk), 8. Vernon Philander, 9. Dale Steyn, 10. Morne Morkel, 11. Marchant de Lange.
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