**Official** New Zealand in South Africa

[wellAlbidarned]

He seems to be pretty good at batting IIRC.

Really just strokes it. Creams them through the covers.

 

[hendrix]

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

agree 100% with this.

When bowling is the strength of both sides (not that SA bat poorly), bowling first should be the default unless the wicket is really flat.

That's advice the coach should be giving, IMO.

 

[Flem274*]

Tbh unless you're an absolute demon with your offstump judgement the only other way I've seen Philander put under pressure is to smash him out of the attack. We definitely need to get him off his line and length because it's simply too good.

If we get out trying to hit him though there will be hell to pay from the media, but provided the ball isn't seaming everywhere attacking him is an option. Mark Gillespie and Trent Boult must have annoyed him a lot in the series down here with their cameo slogging.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

agree with phlegm. His thoroughly mortal (mediocre, in fact) One Day record is solid evidence for that theory.

 

[Briony]

Sounds increasingly likely that Philander will be rested in PE.

SA compared with Oz greats | Sport24

McCullum endorses the current SA attack.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Even by his lofty standards, that's abysmal.

Yeah, saw it through Styris giving it (and him) a bake on twitter.

 

[Flem274*]

Missing the second test due to being in the wops. I hope it's not a good thing. Good luck kiwis.

 

[NasserFan207]

agree with phlegm. His thoroughly mortal (mediocre, in fact) One Day record is solid evidence for that theory.

Said it since day one, Vern looks a completely different player when batters are coming down the pitch, attacking him etc. He loses his composure and starts thinking he's Joel Garner, tries to hard

 

[Mike5181]

Said it since day one, Vern looks a completely different player when batters are coming down the pitch, attacking him etc. He loses his composure and starts thinking he's Joel Garner, tries to hard

Well we saw it briefly with Dean Brownlie in the first test. He hit a boundary off Philander, and suddenly two more relatively bad balls came his way in the very same over.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

How many batsmen are willing to risk the ****-storm which would come their way for trying to charge an opening bowler with an average of 17 in the first five overs of a test? yeah. It's not going to happen.

 

[Athlai]

How many batsmen are willing to risk the ****-storm which would come their way for trying to charge an opening bowler with an average of 17 in the first five overs of a test? yeah. It's not going to happen.

The old Baz would.

 

[Garson007]

Luckily Vettori isn't playing.

Daniel Vettori - Two Crazy Deliveries - South Africa v New Zealand 1st test Hamilton 2003/04 - YouTube

 

[Neil Young]

Sounds increasingly likely that Philander will be rested in PE.

SA compared with Oz greats | Sport24

McCullum endorses the current SA attack.

True, or not, McCullum has to say that for several reasons. One of them being '45' and the another to pacify the restless natives back in NZ.

"We were just up against the best bowling attack of all time. Nothing we could do. Honest. I'm a great captain. Mike's a great coach. Honest. It was their bowling attack, you see. The best of all time."

 

[_Ed_]

This article makes it sound like Wagner's "aggressive net performance" has moved him into contention for the playing XI...
New Zealand in South Africa 2012-13 : Neil Wagner targets his own in bid for return | Cricket News | South Africa v New Zealand | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[Kippax]

Haha, really. Did it look like this at all?
Wells gets bowlers to try Kippax theory - YouTube

NZ domestic threaders already knew Wagner was one of the better bowlers for executing plans.

 

[BeeGee]

Luckily Vettori isn't playing.

Daniel Vettori - Two Crazy Deliveries - South Africa v New Zealand 1st test Hamilton 2003/04 - YouTube

All credit to the very dodgy pitch, mate.

Pitch repairs displease referee | Cricket News | Global | ESPN Cricinfo

I remember that game. A chunk of the pitch (right where Vettori was pitching it in the vid) broke up and came out, and overnight the groundstaff glued it back in. In the morning they were ordered to take it back out again.

 

[Immenso]

This article makes it sound like Wagner's "aggressive net performance" has moved him into contention for the playing XI...
New Zealand in South Africa 2012-13 : Neil Wagner targets his own in bid for return | Cricket News | South Africa v New Zealand | ESPN Cricinfo

Geenty article on Stuff, after I assume watching the same practice, implied the opposite. Wagner unlikely based on the other 4 from first test getting new ball each in training and peppering Mac, Guppy, Flynn and Kane.

Who knows .....

 

[NZTailender]

Wagner's averaging 34 with the bat in FC cricket this season. Could make a straight swap for Franklin

 

[Blain]

I cant believe that Franko hasnt even come under a bit of fire in the media. Surely they know how **** he has been for us in the last year, and is yet picked over and over? It's not like he is in his mid 20s.

And pretty funny how he is unleashing on the NZ batters with a new ball.. 125ks must be scary stuff! Might as well get Arnel over there as well.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

He's just such a nice bloke