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

[slugger]

doesnt the icc have a pitching rating system now.

 

[Flem274*]

Without a doubt. It's a national pastime in this country to whinge about our sports teams. Probably the only thing worse was the arrogance concerning the All Blacks in the Rugby World Cup, as if all we had to do was show up.

Is no-one in this country capable of reasoned analysis? There was an article by Jonathan Millmow in the DomPost the other day that would have been poor writing from some part-time hack blogger, let alone the sports editor of a major daily. It was quite simply kneejerk, juvenile talkback radio vitriol. Millmow is a tosser.

Edit: linky

I stopped reading that article after the title.

On the bright side, that article is bound to be better than the tripe Doug Golightly will spew forth from his buttocks on tomorrows morning show.

 

[Natman20]

Without a doubt. It's a national pastime in this country to whinge about our sports teams. Probably the only thing worse was the arrogance concerning the All Blacks in the Rugby World Cup, as if all we had to do was show up.

Is no-one in this country capable of reasoned analysis? There was an article by Jonathan Millmow in the DomPost the other day that would have been poor writing from some part-time hack blogger, let alone the sports editor of a major daily. It was quite simply kneejerk, juvenile talkback radio vitriol. Millmow is a tosser.

Edit: linky

Oh my gosh. What a terrible article. What could possibly make him think that Bangladesh will be a huge threat to us? Now that sounds like someone who hasn't followed cricket very well at all rather than being someone that knows the ins and outs. A inept journo me thinks.

I agree that I panicked after the dismal test performance's and the lack of depth that we seemed to have before. But after two tests this guy is ranking us as par with Bangladesh? We don't become fourth in the world in ODIs and often make it up to 3rd and 2nd in the ranks (not anymore thanks SA and SRL) from being a piss poor team.

There are a few reasons for the bad performances but it is not time to say this is the end of NZ cricket after two matches.

Ps: This is the time to develop players and now is the time to let others have a go. I wouldn't mind seeing Ryder and co. have a go. Its all about preperation for next world cup in the ODI sense and developing talent in the test arena. I just wish NZ cricket would take tests more seriously and get specialist players in for them more often.

 

[NZTailender]

Ps: This is the time to develop players and now is the time to let others have a go. I wouldn't mind seeing Ryder and co. have a go. Its all about preperation for next world cup in the ODI sense and developing talent in the test arena. I just wish NZ cricket would take tests more seriously and get specialist players in for them more often.

I agree. IMO Broom should be blooded against Bangladesh.

 

[Matt52]

I disagree, mainly because this has already been done. There's been significant work done on NZ pitches over the last 5 or 6 years to put more pace and bounce in them, and it's by and large been a success. Yes, there are abberations such as Seddon Park's pitch a few seasons ago, and the Indian tour back in '03, but the latter at least was hampered by some unusually poor weather affecting pitch preparation.

The stereotypical "low and slow" kiwi greentop is really an anachronism.
.

I think you have to remember that the national team only plays on the good pitches on the main grounds, but in first class cricket the teams travel to smaller places where the quality of pitches may vary..Canterbury play in a few different places like QE2 park, and Rangiora?? if Im not mistaken. Northern play in Gisborne, and Taupo, etc, Central play in Palmerston North, and New Plymouth sometimes, Otago, in ALexandra, and even the pitch at the university oval apparently isnt that good.. Only Wellington and Auckland stay mostly in the same place, so the pitch can be regularly looked after, and kept to a decent standard. But if Northern play one or two games in Gisborne per year then how do you know what sort of quality its gonna be.

I remeber Jeremy Coney making the point that it might be better to keep the domestic teams in their main grounds, so we can be more sure of the quality of the pitch. Stop them travelling around everywhere. Then more resources can be put into the main ground instead of spreading the resources over 3 or 4 different grounds.

 

[Smudge]

Molyneux Park in Alexandra is traditionally one of the most consistent and quickest tracks in the country. Unfortunately, in recent years, with Peter Domigan required to work more often on the Queenstown track, it's perhaps gone slightly back in consistency. And there's nothing wrong with the Uni Oval track now - it had teething problems a couple of years ago, but it's pretty damn good now.

 

[Dick Rockett]

I think you have to remember that the national team only plays on the good pitches on the main grounds, but in first class cricket the teams travel to smaller places where the quality of pitches may vary..Canterbury play in a few different places like QE2 park, and Rangiora?? if Im not mistaken. Northern play in Gisborne, and Taupo, etc, Central play in Palmerston North, and New Plymouth sometimes, Otago, in ALexandra, and even the pitch at the university oval apparently isnt that good.. Only Wellington and Auckland stay mostly in the same place, so the pitch can be regularly looked after, and kept to a decent standard. But if Northern play one or two games in Gisborne per year then how do you know what sort of quality its gonna be.

I remeber Jeremy Coney making the point that it might be better to keep the domestic teams in their main grounds, so we can be more sure of the quality of the pitch. Stop them travelling around everywhere. Then more resources can be put into the main ground instead of spreading the resources over 3 or 4 different grounds.

Actually yeah, you make some pretty good points there I hadn't thought about the lesser grounds, although even if I had I don't think I'm qualified to comment.

 

[Prince EWS]

Had to laugh when I read on cricinfo that Chris Martin was being rested to save him for the ODIs. It's a sad state of affairs when you're wrapping Chris Martin up in cotton wool before an ODI series.

 

[Natman20]

Had to laugh when I read on cricinfo that Chris Martin was being rested to save him for the ODIs. It's a sad state of affairs when you're wrapping Chris Martin up in cotton wool before an ODI series.

True true. I must say hes a better option than mason, gillespie IMO. I think he is expensive but has a knack of takin a couple wickets per game. I think we are yet to see the best of him. Just a hunch. Going on previous stats, well there is not much to say that he would be any good really.

 

[NZTailender]

True true. I must say hes a better option than mason, gillespie IMO. I think he is expensive but has a knack of takin a couple wickets per game. I think we are yet to see the best of him. Just a hunch. Going on previous stats, well there is not much to say that he would be any good really.

DWTA. I think Martin will be fairly one track in this ODI series. I.e. he'll open the bowling, be expensive early up, take about one wicket, then get more economical as his spell goes on. probably will end up with figures of 1-50.

Gillespie looks as though he can takes wickets if he keeps his head about him. Unfortunately, he can also go for a lot of runs; he'll either take 4-50 or 0-60.

Mason is arguably the most 'consistent' when it comes to line and length, but whether this will pay off with wickets is yet to be seen. Will tip him to be the most economical of the three however.

Mills is better than them all and I think he'll have the best series of all the bowlers, followed by Vettori and, if he plays, Patel.

 

[Perm]

Without a doubt. It's a national pastime in this country to whinge about our sports teams. Probably the only thing worse was the arrogance concerning the All Blacks in the Rugby World Cup, as if all we had to do was show up.

Is no-one in this country capable of reasoned analysis? There was an article by Jonathan Millmow in the DomPost the other day that would have been poor writing from some part-time hack blogger, let alone the sports editor of a major daily. It was quite simply kneejerk, juvenile talkback radio vitriol. Millmow is a tosser.

Edit: linky

He does make some good points though, and seems to have a pretty good knowledge of cricket.

 

[Raghav]

Good start for NZ in the 20/20. Come on Blackcaps

 

[Bahnz]

129/7 Mills the top scorer. This is ridiculous. Any possibility we could tempt Macca out of retirement? All it'd take would be a years supply of McDonalds...

 

[Pratters]

New Zealand humiliating with their drop catches.

 

[Pratters]

Worst game. Both sides keep making mistakes. South Africa had no business needing 6 runs off 4 balls. ****ing chokers.

 

[Pratters]

South Africa didn't deserve to win this.

 

[Raghav]

Dissapointed with the NZ performance with the bat.

But some positives in store from today's match. Patel did well with the ball in his first game on the tour. Sounds good for the ODI series to come. Think it would be good keenly contested series with spin duo playing together.

 

[Flem274*]

Catches win matches.

 

[NZTailender]

Just woke up to see the scorecard. From all accounts a shabby game? At least Styris seems to be in some form, I guess. Mills gunned it with the bat - a laugh or cry moment.

Patel with the ball

 

[NZTailender]

Anyone else frustrated by the fact we did well in the Emerging Players Tournament/A Team games and yet it seems like we have absolutely no depth?