Dynamic De Kock can be a big player for South Africa

First Test
Sky Sports 2, 10pm Tuesday

South Africa won 3-2 in a competitive one-day series in
New Zealand and the Proteas are 11-10 to follow up with victory in the first of three Test matches between the teams.

The series starts in Dunedin, where a cloudy, damp build-up suggests top-order batsmen on both sides will be tested by bowler-friendly conditions.

New Zealand’s pace attack of Trent Boult, Tim Southee and the South African-born Neil Wagner are a dangerous unit but the tourists have brilliant youngster Kagiso Rabada along with the high-class Vernon Philander and the returning Morne Morkel.

New Zealand wicketkeeper BJ Watling took nine catches against Sri Lanka in the most recent Test at the University Oval and Watling’s opposite number Quinton de Kock can anticipate some juicy nicks to cling on to this time around.

De Kock, a dynamic one-day batsman, established himself in the Test team with some superb displays in 2016 and he can exceed bet365’s performance line of 120.5.

The performance market awards one point per run, ten per catch and 25 for each stumping and De Kock’s last nine Test matches include make-ups of 218, 195, 192 (against New Zealand at Centurion), 174, 168 and 166.

England are 1-3 to complete a 3-0 clean sweep of their ODI series against the West Indies in Barbados on Thursday.

Eoin Morgan’s side are 7-2 joint-favourites with Australia for the Champions Trophy, which takes place in England in June.

Recommendation
Q de Kock to get 121 or more performance points
3pts 5-6 bet365