***Official*** South Africa in New Zealand 2012

[SeamUp]

There's supposed to be a couple of mid-morning showers but it should be mostly sunny before the game starts and after that there's no rain.

Cheers mate. Google weather forecasts can be not as correct as the local news that you blokes would see, thats why I asked. Hopefully thats the way it unfolds tomorrow.

 

[straw man]

Interesting number crunching on McCullum in ODIs in recent years. I've usually been in favour of him keeping the opening spot but confess I didn't know his numbers were quite as bad as averaging 25.46 in last 47 matches against test-playing nations (exc Zim)

 

[Kippax]

Just a little overnight southerly change, cool but no worries I'd say. Won't be 55km/h wind like it's showing right now either.
Wellington Weather - NZ Weather Forecast Wellington from MetService.com
New Zealand Weather Forecasts

 

[thierry henry]

Really interesting stats on Franklin having the best average, and Taylor's surprisingly poor strike-rate.

 

[Hurricane]

He was attrocious in the world cup like the article said. If he had've played well we would have been a much different team.

 

[Mike5181]

Hopefully Franklin isn't out injured with that dislocated finger he got at training. He's look really comfortable at the crease so far. We need the guy.

 

[Hurricane]

Really interesting stats on Franklin having the best average, and Taylor's surprisingly poor strike-rate.

Probably only a few (11 or 12) innings for franklin - as he has only scored 422 @38

 

[thierry henry]

Really interesting stats on Franklin having the best average, and Taylor's surprisingly poor strike-rate.

Although tbf in Franklin's case it's a very small sample size, take out 187 undefeated runs in 3 games against India and his average falls back to the low 20s.

Taylor has definitely got bogged down a lot in recent ODIs though.

 

[Mike5181]

Interesting number crunching on McCullum in ODIs in recent years. I've usually been in favour of him keeping the opening spot but confess I didn't know his numbers were quite as bad as averaging 25.46 in last 47 matches against test-playing nations (exc Zim)

I've been posting McCullum's stats for ages now. He's been woeful for ages now. I wonder if it was a tactical decision to keep the gloves in ODIs.

 

[straw man]

I've always thought of Taylor as a T20 player and a test player. Doesn't have a middle gear to turn over the strike in ODIs. I think it was this innings from 2009 Champions Trophy that epitomised it for me. Just. Could. Not. Score. Singles. He's really best in ODIs when comes in later and can treat it like a T20. I've thought at times he should bat 6 tbh.

Edit: Still has improved as an ODI player as average of 36 attests.

 

[straw man]

I've been posting McCullum's stats for ages now. He's been woeful for ages now. I wonder if it was a tactical decision to keep the gloves in ODIs.

So should he open, bat 3 or bat down the order?

 

[Prince EWS]

So should he open, bat 3 or bat down the order?

Well he definitely shouldn't bat three. He's a very boundary-reliant batsman who lacks the versatility and finesse to properly build a one day innings at #3 regularly, IMO. He either has to open with Nicol batting 3, or bat down the order as a finisher.

 

[Howsie]

Brendon McCullum is one of the biggest frauds in ODI history. Minnow bashing king and even then his stats don't do justice to the reputation he has around the world. He's a bum and shouldn't be batting any higher than seven afaic.

 

[kiwiviktor81]

He's still riding high on that 158 in the IPL and his T20 century against Aussie. Another batsman in the true Kiwi mold, along with Taylor, McMillan, Ryder: bags of talent, not mentally able to execute good shot selection at the right times.

 

[kiwiviktor81]

Well he definitely shouldn't bat three. He's a very boundary-reliant batsman who lacks the versatility and finesse to properly build a one day innings at #3 regularly, IMO. He either has to open with Nicol batting 3, or bat down the order as a finisher.

What annoys me about this is that we have four guys who have opened last year or this year (Guptill, Nicol, Ryder, McCullum). Of the four, McCullum is probably the least able to hit the boundaries in the powerplay overs against a moving ball. I think he should definitely, as you said, bat lower, probably at 7, where he was going great before this opener idea came along.

Taylor not being in the team makes it harder but I'd love to see an ODI top seven of:

1. Guptill
2. Nicol
3. Ryder
4. Taylor
5. Williamson
6. Franklin
7. B. McCullum

If Oram was fit I'd even consider Baz at 8.

 

[Prince EWS]

What annoys me about this is that we have four guys who have opened last year or this year (Guptill, Nicol, Ryder, McCullum). Of the four, McCullum is probably the least able to hit the boundaries in the powerplay overs against a moving ball. I think he should definitely, as you said, bat lower, probably at 7, where he was going great before this opener idea came along.

Taylor not being in the team makes it harder but I'd love to see an ODI top seven of:

1. Guptill
2. Nicol
3. Ryder
4. Taylor
5. Williamson
6. Franklin
7. B. McCullum

If Oram was fit I'd even consider Baz at 8.

I'd swap Williamson and Ryder for reasons I explained earlier in the thread, but yeah.

It does potentially leave you a bowler short though; Nicol, Franklin and Williamson would have to make up ten overs. If Oram was fit as well I think Franklin would probably have to get the arse and McCullum would have to bat 6.

 

[kiwiviktor81]

Switching Ryder and Williamson would be a good shout, but I have been traumatised by years of opening batting failures and consider Ryder more of a "third opener" in the likely case of a dismissal in the first two overs. Especially now that we're facing Steyn.

But with Guptill and Nicol batting the way they are, Williamson might be better at No. 3, where he might have 40 overs instead of 48.3 to build an innings.

Edit: I'd be happy with ten overs out of those guys, Franklin 5, Nicol 3 and Williamson 2.

 

[Mike5181]

Nicol and Franklin in particular are capable of bowling a few overs.

 

[rza]

The Kiwis crack me up when it comes to cricket. I get on really well with some of their players and coaching team and like them a lot but some of their antics on the cricket field make me laugh.

If it was the All Blacks with all that strength and fire power you would have to take it seriously, but on the cricket field with their pop-gun attack, really, do me a favour. They are the poor man's Aussies!

They may as well give up on all their intimidation efforts and just continue to play the game hard and do their best like they can. Especially after the third T20 game where they managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. If ever a team, as we would say in the trade, took the gas it was the Black Caps. If ever there was a choke this was it. Mind you I never heard that word mentioned post-match after the Kiwis surrendered a clear advantage that could have, and indeed should have, won them the series.

The Proteas’ fightback and spirit were good. They never gave up and their passion and intensity was evident right to the end. That’s where the personality of AB de Villiers will be good for the team. They didn't play particularly well as a unit, but in the end they still came out on top when it mattered.

Former ODI and T20 skipper Johan Botha was brilliant in this game. The last over of his spell set up the win for South Africa. Marchant de Lange bowled an excellent last over as well. Once the euphoria settles down in the South African camp after the unlikely series win they will reflect on areas of their game that need to improve considerably.

New Zealand is an average team and they should under no circumstances run the Proteas close. Yes, they may win the odd game against South Africa at home but over a series the margin of victory for South Africa should be significant.
-Kepler Wessels
The poor man?s Aussies - SuperSport - Cricket

Kepler at his worst!

 

[kiwiviktor81]

Kepler's right about the intimidation thing. Not even Bond got lippy when he was chucking them down at 150+ so I don't see why Southee, struggling to reach 140, should have such a vocal opinion.

I've never been to SA but the people I have met from there were mentally tough. I can't imagine some skinny kid from a place as unthreatening as Whangarei is going to achieve more than a few laughs in the Proteas dressing room afterwards.