New Zealand will aim to exploit Afghanistan’s relative inexperience in red-ball cricket in the one-off Test beginning here on Monday and gather momentum ahead of their upcoming World Test Championship challenges on the subcontinent.

New Zealand’s first-ever Test against Afghanistan will kick off a challenging couple of months for the Black Caps who play six long-format matches on the bounce on the subcontinent, something they haven’t done in 40 years.

With their underwhelming subcontinent record in mind (40 losses in 90 matches), New Zealand would want to hit the straps straightaway. Senior batsman Kane Williamson has emphasised the need to adapt to conditions and with three games under their belt, they would be well prepared for the marquee series against India next month.

Spin is expected to dominate proceedings and New Zealand have come prepared with five slow bowling options. Left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel, who returns to India for the first time since his 10-wicket haul in Mumbai in 2021, is expected to make the XI.

Rachin Ravindra, who has been sweating it out at the Chennai Super Kings high-performance centre in Chennai, is expected to be handy with bat and ball while all-rounders Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell are vying to fill the remaining spinners’ spots.

For the Afghans, opener Ibrahim Zadran appears doubtful after hurting his ankle during Sunday’s training session, captain Hashmatullah Shahidi said.

Written with PTI inputs