***Official*** New Zealand in South Africa

[thedarkmullet]

Papps starting slooowww, but probably the sensible thing given the conditions.
The problem is i get the feeling he's just as likely to be out playing with caution as he is having a go.

Happy to eat my words mind you.

 

[Athlai]

Promising

Total (all out; 28.5 overs; 138 mins) 106 (3.67 runs per over)


Not promising


Total (4 wickets; 23.4 overs) 62 (2.61 runs per over)

 

[Raghav]

Really can not understand how the pitches in SA will behave like for the test series

 

[Raghav]

McCullum needs a big score here!

Edit: Runs coming fast for NZ here! Taylor going on nicely with 30...

 

[Bahnz]

Another completely gutless effort from the top order has probably left us with too much to do. Again Vincent, Styris and Oram surrender their wickets cheaply after what was, comparatively speaking, a pretty solid start (both openers got double figures!). I know this is their first competitive cricket of the season, but this really isn't good enough. Top stuff from McCullum and Taylor though. The latter must've secured his spot in the test team. I suppose there's still a slight chance we could chase down the remaining runs, although it'd take some real determination and skill to see it through.

Good bowling though, particularly from Oram who seems to be having a bit of a purple patch with the ball at the moment.

 

[Perm]

Taylor and Vettori with the chance to bring New Zealand home tomorrow.

 

[Athlai]

I'd love to see Phlegm when he finds out Taylor is actually gun.

 

[Flem274*]

I'd love to see Phlegm when he finds out Taylor is actually gun.

Its just one score, too early to judge. What is his score incidentally?

And if he turns out good then I'll be very happy. No one else is really setting the world on fire with their batting ATM.

 

[Bahnz]

Its just one score, too early to judge. What is his score incidentally?

And if he turns out good then I'll be very happy. No one else is really setting the world on fire with their batting ATM.

He's on 79. Good stuff, and it's the second time in the match that he's showed a bit of application while the rest of the middle order fell to bits around him.

 

[Flem274*]

So the performers

Batting

Vettori
Taylor
Cumming (Once)
McCullum
Fleming (to a lesser extent)
[
B]Bowling[/B]

Oram
Martin (wince)
Vettori
Bond (to a lesser extent)

So our team is pretty much

1. Cumming
2.
3.Fleming
4.
5. Taylor
6. Oram
7. McCullum
8. Vettori
9. Bond
10.
11. Martin

The number four spot and with Flemings injury, the number three spot are not performing and they are arguably two of the most crucial batting positions. Also one opener (Papps) and usually Cumming as well are not performing. I'm sorry to say that if we don't sort out the top four we are going to lose to SA heavily. The sad thing is Cumming, Papps and Styris are usually always in our first XI. I still think the squad is batsman light as well. If one more batsman is injured then we have a major problem.

 

[Perm]

1. Cumming
2. Papps
3. Taylor
4. Fleming
5. Styris
6. Oram
7. McCullum
8. Vettori
9. Bond
10. Mason
11. Martin

 

[Bahnz]

So the performers

Batting

Vettori
Taylor
Cumming (Once)
McCullum
Fleming (to a lesser extent)
[
B]Bowling[/B]

Oram
Martin (wince)
Vettori
Bond (to a lesser extent)

So our team is pretty much

1. Cumming
2.
3.Fleming
4.
5. Taylor
6. Oram
7. McCullum
8. Vettori
9. Bond
10.
11. Martin

The number four spot and with Flemings injury, the number three spot are not performing and they are arguably two of the most crucial batting positions. Also one opener (Papps) and usually Cumming as well are not performing. I'm sorry to say that if we don't sort out the top four we are going to lose to SA heavily. The sad thing is Cumming, Papps and Styris are usually always in our first XI. I still think the squad is batsman light as well. If one more batsman is injured then we have a major problem.

Hmmm...well we always knew the openers were going to be hopeless (though some may have hoped that Papps' domestic form last season would translate into runs for the Black Caps). The real concern is that number 4 spot. It has to go to Styris, considering he is the incumbent, although this'll be his first appearance for the test team since our last tour to South Africa at the beginning of last year. Still, Vincent and Fulton will watch his (and the rest of the middle orders) performances with interest over the series. As for the number 10 spot, pick whoever you like. I suppose I'd go for Mason but none of them are exactly likely to be future superstars, are they?

The other option of course is that you include Oram in the side as a bowler, and then use the extra spot to boost the batting, though I'm not at all fond of the idea myself.

 

[Julian87]

1. Cumming
2. Papps
3. Taylor
4. Fleming
5. Styris
6. Oram
7. McCullum
8. Vettori
9. Bond
10. Mason
11. Martin

I'd swap Patel and Mason and that'd be it.

Cumming is dire though, is only ever a stop gap.

Taylor showing his class, which was always quite obvious to me.

 

[Perm]

I'd swap Patel and Mason and that'd be it.

Cumming is dire though, is only ever a stop gap.

Taylor showing his class, which was always quite obvious to me.

Patel isn't likely to be that effective though, especially with ground conditions in South Africa traditionally favouring seam bowling. Although I would have liked to see him bowl in either of these warm-up games, just to gauge how valuable he may be to the side.

Cumming is the second best opener in New Zealand, behind Michael Papps. Unfortunately, given his age he will only be remembered as a stop-gap measure.

 

[Athlai]

As partial as I am to Patel, Permsters right.

 

[Julian87]

He is right, but the third quick bowler will just be a waste of space. They may as well play a batsman.

 

[Flem274*]

1. Cumming
2. Papps
3. Taylor
4. Fleming
5. Styris
6. Oram
7. McCullum
8. Vettori
9. Bond
10. Mason
11. Martin

Cumming
Papps
Fleming
Styris
Taylor
Oram
McCullum
Vettori
Bond
Mason
Martin

Taylor hasn't played at 3 in FC IIRC as Sinclair usually does it. I think his place is number five for now.

 

[Athlai]

Cumming
Papps
Fleming
Styris
Taylor
Oram
McCullum
Vettori
Bond
Mason
Martin

Taylor hasn't played at 3 in FC IIRC as Sinclair usually does it. I think his place is number five for now.

Phlegm puts Taylor in the squad hurrah!

I agree with the team though. Yet if there is so much as an inch of turn bring in Patel. Really would like to see him play at least once in the test series (was very disappointed he didn't get O'Briens place actually).

 

[Flem274*]

Phlegm puts Taylor in the squad hurrah!

I agree with the team though. Yet if there is so much as an inch of turn bring in Patel. Really would like to see him play at least once in the test series (was very disappointed he didn't get O'Briens place actually).

Yes despite Taylors flaws which I have mentioned, we need him ATM. He wouldn't make the team if Fulton was fit though.

It pains me to include Martin so it wouldn't take much convincing for me to put Patel ahead of him. Sadly the same cannot be said of Braces.

 

[sportychic33]

Cumming
Papps
Fleming
Styris
Taylor
Oram
McCullum
Vettori
Bond
Mason
Martin

Taylor hasn't played at 3 in FC IIRC as Sinclair usually does it. I think his place is number five for now.

Good line up. Hopefully the top order remember how to bat within the next 4 days.