New Zealand will face Afghanistan in a one-off Test held in Greater Noida, India, this week (September 9). Here's Wisden's preview of the best odds to back for the match.
The match will be the first Test ever played between the two sides and the third Test match Afghanistan have played this year. After playing six Tests in four years when they gained professional status, they only played one between the end of 2021 and the beginning of this year. They will be without Rashid Khan, who is taking an extended break form the format following picking up an injury while playing domestic cricket in Afghanistan.
New Zealand haven't played a Test match since March, when they lost to Australia on home soil. The squad they've selected for the match includes Michael Bracewell, who hasn't played a Test match for 18 months, as well as Ajaz Patel, Mitchell Santner, Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips among the spinners. Kane Williamson will also feature, having originally been a doubt being among several high profile New Zealand players who have declined to sign central contracts. Kyle Jamieson is not in the squad as he is still undergoing rehab for a stress fracture in his back.
AFG v NZ one-off Test match: Who will win?
Afghanistan have lost their last three Test matches, including their two earlier this year against Sri Lanka and Ireland. That means that they haven't won a Test match since 2021, when they triumphed over Zimbabwe. They were also dealt bad news when Naveed Zadran, who was the pick of the Afghanistan pacers in their matches in February of this year, was ruled out of the match with a side strain. To cover his place, they've brought in uncapped seamer Khalil Ahmed, alongside fellow potential debutants Shams Ur Rahman and Riaz Hassan. Zahir Khan and Zia-ur-Rehman will lead the spin attack in Rashid's absence, with Gulbadin Naib also missing among those who played Afghanistan's last Test.
It's hard to look past New Zealand as the winner of the contest. They are a vastly more experienced side, and while the conditions could swing the match slightly more in Afghanistan's favour, it likely won't be enough for them to pull off an upset over the Black Caps. This is reflected in the odds, with Stake offering a 1.45 return on every pound betted on a New Zealand win.
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