Injury-laden New Zealand take on in-form South Africa

Wellington: In yet another injury setback for New Zealand, Trent Boult was ruled out of the second Test against South Africa starting in Wellington on Thursday.

The game was heading towards an exciting finish in Dunedin on the fifth and final day of the first Test with both teams having equal chances of winning the game.

New Zealand, heading into the Test, have a few glaring issues on hand, the most significant of which is the injury concern to Trent Boult. Boult, currently nursing a sore hip from the first Test, did not participate in the training session on Monday.

Tim Southee could get a look in the playing XI if Boult does not recover till the eve of the Test. Another change that the home side is forced to make is to replace Ross Taylor with Neil Broom. Broom brings in 15 years' worth of experience in First-Class cricket. While that cannot substitute Taylor's international experience, but it does provide Broom credibility.

South Africa, on their part, may opt to play the same set of players at Basin Reserve. They have called in Dane Piedt, but in all likelihood he will miss out at Wellington.

The only concern for South Africa will be the form of Temba Bavuma, who made a valiant fifty in at Dunedin. His innings was neither fluent nor was it an indication of return to form.

Teams from

New Zealand: Kane Williamson (Capt.), BJ Watling (wk), Jeet Raval, Tom Latham, Neil Broom, Henry Nicholls, Mitchell Santner, Colin de Grandhomme, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, James Neesham, Jeetan Patel.

South Africa: Faf du Plessis (Captain), Quinton de Kock (wk), Stephen Cook, Dean Elgar, Hashim Amla, JP Duminy, Duanne Olivier, Temba Bavuma, Kagiso Rabada, Vernon Philander, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Wayne Parnell, Keshav Maharaj, Heinrich Klaasen, Theunis de Bruyn.

Pitch and conditions
The Basin Reserve at Wellington, offers the most pace and bounce of all the New Zealand grounds, which connotes well for South Africa.

Stats and trivia
Kane Williamson needs 63 runs for 5000 and also one century to equal Martin Crowe's record of 17

Match facts
March 16-20 2017
Start time 11.00am local (2200 GMT -1d)

Scores	Upcoming	Results
South Africa vs Pakistan - 3rd ODI 4th Test - Australia v India - December 26-30, 23:30 GMT 1st Test - Zimbabwe v Afghanistan - December 26-30, 07:30 GMT 3rd ODI - Zimbabwe v Afghanistan at Harare Afghanistan won by 8 wickets (with 139 balls remaining) 3rd T20I - West Indies v Bangladesh at St Vincent Bangladesh won by 80 runs

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