**Official** New Zealand in South Africa

[Flem274*]

Shut up about Pakistan ffs.

 

[Zinzan]

Well SA were outplayed in two of the three tests in their latest series so...

It was still a series win away from home and it says a lot about them that they still got over the line despite as not being at their best at times.

 

[smash84]

no way... Kallis and Amla are magnificent against spin. So are Cook and Prior. Plus, KP has the ability to pull a bunch of rabbits out of a hat on any pitch, like he's shown on numerous occasions this year.

You do realize that Cook, Prior and possibly KP will be the only batsman from the 'same English side' that will be in the combined side right?

Not a chance in hell. Especially 'thrash'.

imagine the chances of choking in a combined SA-Eng side

 

[Satyanash89]

Yeah and it's not even close. When even Teja can admit Anderson is better than someone, he definitely is.

Reckon people generally overrate Morkel just as much as they underrate Anderson. Jimmeh has,.over the last few years, shown he can produce quality spells in places not generally helpful for quicks. Morkel is waaay behind him imo

 

[benchmark00]

Wow, I can only presume that SA must've lost that series then, right?

I'm not saying that Australia are better than SA. I'm the first to say SA are the best team in the world, but they're not 'so far ahead of the pack'.

If the pack was NZ and SL then maybe yeah.

 

[Flem274*]

Going to bed. This isn't worth going without sleep for.

 

[smash84]

I'm not saying that Australia are better than SA. I'm the first to say SA are the best team in the world, but they're not 'so far ahead of the pack'.

If the pack was NZ and SL then maybe yeah.

 

[benchmark00]

It was still a series win away from home and it says a lot about them that they still got over the line despite as not being at their best at times.

But the series at home was only drawn also...

Only as good as what the opposition lets you play. SA are the best but its no where even close to as much of a gap as when Australia were number one back a few years ago.

 

[Bahnz]

**** this NZ team is horrible. They talk about doing the basics well.... This is an example of doing the basics very ****ly, if at all.

Haha, all the sports journo's in NZ have been crying out for McCullum to be captain for the last 12 months, and during the T20 series there was a lot of talk in the papers about clear signs that the team was coming together brilliantly under him, and working hard as a unit in a way they never did under Taylor. You can really see it today.

 

[AndyZaltzHair]

Amla is so good at shuffling and playing it on the legside

 

[kykweer.proteas]

Reckon people generally overrate Morkel just as much as they underrate Anderson. Jimmeh has,.over the last few years, shown he can produce quality spells in places not generally helpful for quicks. Morkel is waaay behind him imo

Andersen is great but he doesn't really add anything that philander and steyn can't do. Morkel atleast can get some bounce.

 

[Crazy Sam]

I see Luke Ronchi becomes eligible for NZ on Day 3 on the 2nd test. Perhaps they should parachute him in mid-test.... :O

 

[Bahnz]

He's been one of my favourites over the years, but Martin looks done. Bit sad watching him so past his best against such a powerful opponent.

 

[AlanJLegend]

"LOL, this is hilarious..."

 

[Howsie]

How bad must Wagner be if he isn't seen as a better option than Martin. I'm not a big fan but surely he can't be this bad?

 

[Teja.]

Andersen is great but he doesn't really add anything that philander and steyn can't do. Morkel atleast can get some bounce.

Nope. More pertinently Anderson while not being the best strike bowler - still definitely nothing to turn down, mind - has been remarkably tight, almost Ambrose-tight, for the last couple of years.

He'd be an exceptional third pacer as of right now.

 

[Bahnz]

How bad must Wagner be if he isn't seen as a better option than Martin. I'm not a big fan but surely he can't be this bad?

To be fair, he hasn't really looked any worse than his compatriots.

 

[TT Boy]

He's been one of my favourites over the years, but Martin looks done. Bit sad watching him so past his best against such a powerful opponent.

Bowling at a pace Franklin would be proud of, 125kph.

 

[Zinzan]

To be fair, he hasn't really looked any worse than his compatriots.

Lol, you've always had a soft-spot for Chrissy.

 

[Prince EWS]

Bowling at a pace Franklin would be proud of, 125kph.

Speak of the devil...

Bond and Franklin reckon he's bowling closer to what he was when he was actually a bowler now, will be interesting to see what this is like.