**Official** New Zealand in South Africa

[Hurricane]

Short Answer: Well that's my view so lets agree to disagree.

Longer Answer

No doubt there were more factors than just the pitch at play behind why we got out for 45. But the fact it was the first session on a slightly grass covered pitch was an important factor.

The reason why we scored more runs in the 2nd dig wasn't ONLY grit and determination it was also that the pitch was doing less.

Some of the balls we received during our 45 fiasco were awesome. And those deliveries needed good conditions to behave the way they did. They would have either dismissed most batsman in the world or beaten the bat. Somehow we nicked or edged ALL of them. Some of our dismissals were lame in that inning. In particular I thought Baz and Franko could have done better. Many of the other top 6 I don't blame.

If we had've bowled first I doubt we would have taken more than 3 wickets because we don't have the same bowlers in our team. But we knew who they had and we underestimated their abilities to our demise.

 

[Hurricane]

South Africa easily scored 250 runs at an ODI run rate on the same day after starting little over 19 overs later, .

In the two overs they batted before lunch (in the same conditions) they lost a wicket and nearly lost a second.

The first session of the test is always the hardest.

 

[Mike5181]

Out of all the factors involved, decision to bat first, poor batting, etc. The most decisive was an absolutely devastating spell of bowling from Philander. He would have had any batting lineup in the world on the ropes with that spell.

No excuses for NZ. It was a pathetic display, but that was some spell of bowling.

As much as I hate watching him embarrass us, to potentially be able to add another ATG bowler to the list that I've seen in my lifetime is awesome. Steyn's been the only one since McGrath/Pollock etc.

 

[Flem274*]

There was talk recently about Philander's final average, and the general consensus iirc was 25-32. If he keeps bullying teams on home pitches though, his average might stay in the low 20s and the longer he keeps this run of form up/gets to smash lower 4 test sides the harder it will be for his average to go up.

The **** is living in a video game.

 

[SteveNZ]

Hesson was reported to say on the radio that they were going to practice against hostile bowling in he nets.

I have mixed feelings about it. Hope no one ends up with a broken finger out of it.

I've got one feeling about it - woeful coaching. Was he not forewarned South Africa have a reasonable pace-laden, hostile bowling line-up? Or could he have worked it out himself?

 

[Flem274*]

I read it as they're going to practise against bouncers and ignore the fact they got out mostly to good old pitch it up in the channel test bowling.

So they'll turn up to PE ready to play some hook shots and get caught in the slips all over again.

 

[Hurricane]

When I was 14 my coach noticed me backing away towards square leg against the 16 and 17 year old quicks.

He fixed me up by throwing tennis balls at my body. I am just a bit worried about having neil wagner and boult bowl 140kms inswinging bouncers persistently at our batsman with normal cricket balls could prove counter productive.

However Hesson being an experienced coach may have some specific short sharp drills in mind in which case all is good.

 

[Rasimione]

There was talk recently about Philander's final average, and the general consensus iirc was 25-32. If he keeps bullying teams on home pitches though, his average might stay in the low 20s and the longer he keeps this run of form up/gets to smash lower 4 test sides the harder it will be for his average to go up.

The **** is living in a video game.

Well i think he will do well where ever he goes. if the ball is not doing anything he will keep it tight. The only real way is to try an attack him. I think Hayden would have tried to intimidate him. most of the people he gets out are generally trying to see him out of the attack. I think he will end up with a low 20 avg.

 

[Crazy Sam]

Apart from England and Clarke there aren't too many 'great' batsmen around at the moment either to consistently counter the top bowlers.

 

[SeamUp]

SA ODI squad has been picked

Kallis rested.

Quinton De Kock in to keep.

Colin Ingram, Farhaan Behardien, Aaron Phangiso & Rory Kleinveldt also in.

 

[SeamUp]

Feel for Dave Miller.

Proteas ODI squad: AB de Villiers (Nashua Titans, capt), Hashim Amla (Sunfoil Dolphins), Farhaan Behardien (Nashua Titans), Quinton de Kock (bizhub Highveld Lions), Faf du Plessis (Nashua Titans), Colin Ingram (Chevrolet Warriors), Rory Kleinveldt (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Ryan McLaren (Chevrolet Knights), Morne Morkel (Nashua Titans), Robbie Peterson (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Aaron Phangiso (bizhub Highveld Lions), Graeme Smith (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Dale Steyn (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Lonwabo Tsotsobe (Sunfoil Dolphins).

 

[Briony]

Would rate Miller above Ingram.

 

[benchmark00]

Nice to see that we'll get a taste of de Kock in the ODI's.

 

[BeeGee]

Nice to see that we'll get a taste of de Kock in the ODI's.

It'll be NZ that'll be tasting it.

I am looking forward to seeing de Kock perform. Comes with a big reputation. I hope he stands up in this series. I'd rather see him dominate up front than be involved in a come from behind situation.

 

[SteveNZ]

However Hesson being an experienced coach may have some specific short sharp drills in mind in which case all is good.

If Hesson was an experienced coach, he'd have done such things before the Cape Town Test.

This guy was supposed to be an uber-organised, solid man manager. That's looking pretty far from the case, so what does he really offer? He's Andy Moles minus the stomach, minus the first-class experience and plus one friend.

 

[Garson007]

Actually pretty unfair for Miller given his T20 performances.

 

[kingkallis]

Miller must have done something really bad to be overlooked like this for sometime now.

 

[morgieb]

It'll be NZ that'll be tasting it.

I am looking forward to seeing de Kock perform. Comes with a big reputation. I hope he stands up in this series. I'd rather see him dominate up front than be involved in a come from behind situation.

He seems to be pretty good at batting IIRC.

 

[straw man]

Chris Rattue: Taylor must get onto the first plane out - Opinion - NZ Herald News

To rephrase

Chris Rattue's struggle with writing articles expressing his one-eyed views in order to generate controversy is becoming one of the most turgid bores in the history of New Zealand sport.

This is what, his 3rd or 4th article recently criticising Taylor, this one ratcheting up the hyperbole and sarcasm even further to make up for lack of new information. Dismal.

Better article on the batting from mr Thinking Negatively
Mark Richardson: Batting first requires skills we don't have - Best of Sport Analysis - NZ Herald News

Richardson seems pretty content to talk some nonsense on tv and play the clown a lot of the time, but if there's anyone who knows about making the most of your batting ability, finding a method that works and concentrating for long periods, it's him - wonder if he could do for our batting what Bond is doing for our bowling.

 

[_Ed_]

Chris Rattue: Taylor must get onto the first plane out - Opinion - NZ Herald News

Even by his lofty standards, that's abysmal.