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

[NZTailender]

Sri Lanka IIRC.

 

[Julian87]

It'd be nice if Bond and Fleming can form a nice partnership tomorrow. Would take some pressure off Styris, Taylor and Oram.

If the openers fail twice the they have to think seriously about Vincent at the top of the order IMO.

 

[Days of Grace]

I just hope Bond doesn't get hit on the fingers against the relatively new ball, that's all.

 

[Craig]

Good day of Test cricket, loved it more then Australia and Sri Lanka. New Zealand obviously bowled well although I felt they gifted to many four balls to the South Africans, especially from Bond and Martin and sometimes their line wasn't quite right, especially through the point and cover regions. But beggers can't be choosers, so overall a good effort. Surprised that Bond would come in as a NWM, rather then Styris, or at least Vettori would send himself up there. I'm not a fan of them mind you, so I would of had Styris in instead.

I just hope Bond doesn't get hit on the fingers against the relatively new ball, that's all.

Knowing a NZ fast bowler's luck, then it is likely to happen

 

[Days of Grace]

Now that Vettori is captain he can darn well choose someone else to be the nightwatchman :-)

 

[Craig]

Touche.

 

[Flem274*]

Flem come on my argument is stupid, yeah sehwag may have got dropped.. but umm look at his record. we would take that anyway. even if we didnt open with fleming why not open with one of the middle order batsmen who wouldn't make the starting XI. Wont weaken the middle order and strengthens the top order because papps and cumming are just not good enough. I would even have more confidence in someone who just keeps slogging. Give me a quick 25 over a slow 12 and then getting out anyday.

And its not as if Technically papps and cumming are even sound, good bowlers will keep exposing them.

anyway great day NZ- Bond and Martin outstanding! infact the whole bowling effort was great.

Our catching is a worry though, how many of those easy high catches have we missed in the past 12 months??

Overall thrilled with day 1, way more than I expected. Lets hope we can cash in today.

I agree, your argument is stupid.

Fleming is not an opener and damn well shouldn't be. If we use middle order blokes that won't make the team anyway it still won't work because they will be even more dire than Marshall and Fulton were last bloody summer. Face it, middle order players aren't good openers and are extremely unlikely to be without extensive work on their gameplay. Though I believe whichever opener scores the most in this match stays, the other is replaced by Vincent, who is one of the few who has had any success opening, ableit on friendly tracks.

Now I am going to use a Richard-esque statement. I'm right, you're wrong, my opinion is fact, debate over.

And I'm picking Fleming to score a double ton in this series.

 

[Perm]

Good day for New Zealand. To dismiss South Africa for less than 250 runs is a very good effort. Let's hope we can make the most of that advantage today, shame to see our openers falling cheaply.

 

[gettingbetter]

This is not worthy of its own thread, but does anyone know why Plunkett and Harmison are playing in the SA Domestic Comp? Reverse Kolpak?

 

[Perm]

Just to get some cricket under their belt before the Test series against Sri Lanka I think.

 

[gettingbetter]

They aren't in the squad.

 

[chalky]

Good yorker by Steyn to get rid of Bond.

 

[Perm]

Fleming gone, pathetic shot. Going to be interesting to see how Ross Taylor handles his Test debut.

 

[Craig]

Fleming gone, pathetic shot. Going to be interesting to see how Ross Taylor handles his Test debut.

Typical of Fleming, clearly a talented individual yet 'upstairs' has been his weak point. This match is looking to be a corker of a Test.

 

[chalky]

Can't believe it's Ross Taylors 1st Test seems to have been around for ages.

 

[wpdavid]

Typical of Fleming, clearly a talented individual yet 'upstairs' has been his weak point. This match is looking to be a corker of a Test.

Only if NZ manage a couple of decent partnerships in this first innings. Failing that, a first innings lead of 100 looks as if it should be decisive in this game.

 

[Craig]

Actually NZ are in quite the hole. This sort of had me worried that if South Africa got bundled out cheaply for 226, how would the NZ batsmen fare?

Personally I never understand the logic of the NWM as it is partically a walking wicket IMO.

 

[Craig]

NZ 7 wickets down for just 88 runs. Time for a captains knock by Vettori.

 

[Bahnz]

Oh this is abismal. Not unexpected, but abismal none the less. Do we truly have no one besides Vettori, capable of batting an entire session?

 

[Loony BoB]

Vettori can't bat an entire innings unless he starts higher up. He bats for longer than anyone, though, it seems. Maybe he should open.

I was thinking yesterday "Well, time for our batsmen. This is where we struggle. I wonder if our bowlers will get screwed again?"

Answer: Yes.