Proteas diehards braced for a series of all-nighters

Proteas fans will need to pull all-nighters if they are to follow the team’s exploits in the Test series in New Zealand.

The first Test from the Hagley Oval in Christchurch, will begin at midnight (00:00) on Thursday morning South African time.

South Africans hoping to follow the action will have to tune in to SuperSport, who own the exclusive broadcast rights.

Proteas seek to maintain incredible record

The Proteas have only lost a single Test match in New Zealand and have never suffered defeat in a bilateral series against the Black Caps in the ultimate format.

New Zealand will be without inspirational skipper and generational batting talent Kane Williamson. The Black Caps are, however, a side renowned for pulling together to become greater than the sum of their parts.

Proteas skipper Dean Elgar and the brainstrust must now be closer to making a decision on who will replace Keegan Petersen.

Petersen was ruled out of the tour after testing positive for COVID-19 as the party prepared to jet out to Aotearoa.

Elgar had said that the replacement would be either Dolphins batter Sarel Erwee or Western Province’s Zubayr Hamza.

The series will also represent the first meeting between Devon Conway and his native South Africa in the Test arena.

Conway’s position in the New Zealand team is not something the Proteas are giving too much thought to though.

However, Conway and stand-in skipper Tom Latham will be the prized wickets for the Proteas.

The other South African in the Kiwis ranks, Neil Wagner, could be the dangerman with the ball as Trent Boult sits out the first Test.

Boult is away to witness the birth of his child, with Blair Tickner possibly in line for a Test debut as a result.

This is the first meeting of the sides in Test cricket since the Proteas 2016/17 tour.