***Official*** South Africa in New Zealand 2017

[Bahnz]

wagner makes a combined xi?

It'd be close. Wagner didn't bowl well yesterday but he's been excellent for the last 18 months. Depends on what you're looking for in a third dealer I guess.

 

[Zinzan]

It'd be close. Wagner didn't bowl yesterday but he's been excellent for the last 18 months. Depends on what you're looking for in a third dealer I guess.

Honestly don't even think many SA'cans would deny Wagner being selected ahead of Morkel in a current combined XI.

Don't forget Wagner has to bowl against their batsmen and Morkel gets to bowl against our lot, quite a difference

Waggers has picked up good returns against all-comers for a long time now.

 

[ImpatientLime]

Hell yes!! 68 wickets @ 23 in the last 2 years, been one of the best going around.

yeah fair shout.

 

[Bahnz]

Shouldn't really be playing at that but good shot all the same.

Another one to add to the Temba gif file.

 

[Zinzan]

i have no issue with latham playing odis. clearly one of the best options for the format. was never a fan of him taking the gloves tho. campaigned for blundell/cleaver/seifert or any non-ronchi or latham option at the time.

It's a strange one because it really shouldn't affect him that much mentally having the gloves in ODIs, but clearly it does.

 

[vandem]

Worth noting that Raval has reached double figures in 10 of his 11 test innings. The anti-McIntosh.

 

[Tom Flint]

Without Taylor & Boult, KW & Waggers are the only NZ'ders who'd make a combined NZ/SA side from these two XIs.....so from that point of view we've probably done well to even concede just a 100 run lead.

Good chance this test could finish today.

Raval > cook

 

[Bahnz]

Disagree with the commentators saying this is well played. Raval needs to be ducking and swaying more. Eventually one of these are gonna balloon up and he's going to get caught.

 

[The Hutt Rec]

It's a strange one because it really shouldn't affect him that much mentally having the gloves in ODIs, but clearly it does.

I think having to suddenly focus on keeping for 50 overs when he's barely done it before ... so virtually having to re-train himself, was a huge ask of someone who really was still trying to cement a spot in the one day side, and find his game in that format. I'm not surprised at all that it lead to some very poor batting form in that format ... and I don't think the selectors have anyone else to blame but themselves that it's now transferred into test cricket.

It's so disappointing though. We had a host of one dayers this year to bring Blundell into the side and give him a chance to get used to international cricket ... starting with Bangers which doesn't get much better for an introductory series. Now Latham has failed and we're stuck with Ronchi for the Champions Trophy. Who looks mentally shot as well. At least if we'd given Blundell a go and decided not to go with him for England then Ronchi would be coming back after a good break and maybe be in a better frame of mind.

 

[StephenZA]

Pretty good test cricket that... well done all round.

 

[straw man]

Unfortunately that's quite likely imo.

Key of course will be to get through to 20 or 25 over mark with max 2 or 3 down, Williamson still in, when batting becomes easier. That will be difficult to achieve when there is something there for the new ball bowlers to exploit.

Well, 1 out of 2. Pleased to be be 23 overs in and only 2 down, a shame that one of them was Williamson though.

 

[hendrix]

I think having to suddenly focus on keeping for 50 overs when he's barely done it before ... so virtually having to re-train himself, was a huge ask of someone who really was still trying to cement a spot in the one day side, and find his game in that format. I'm not surprised at all that it lead to some very poor batting form in that format ... and I don't think the selectors have anyone else to blame but themselves that it's now transferred into test cricket.

It's so disappointing though. We had a host of one dayers this year to bring Blundell into the side and give him a chance to get used to international cricket ... starting with Bangers which doesn't get much better for an introductory series. Now Latham has failed and we're stuck with Ronchi for the Champions Trophy. Who looks mentally shot as well. At least if we'd given Blundell a go and decided not to go with him for England then Ronchi would be coming back after a good break and maybe be in a better frame of mind.

TBF Latham has done plenty of keeping before.

 

[Zinzan]

I think having to suddenly focus on keeping for 50 overs when he's barely done it before ... so virtually having to re-train himself, was a huge ask of someone who really was still trying to cement a spot in the one day side, and find his game in that format. I'm not surprised at all that it lead to some very poor batting form in that format ... and I don't think the selectors have anyone else to blame but themselves that it's now transferred into test cricket.

It's so disappointing though. We had a host of one dayers this year to bring Blundell into the side and give him a chance to get used to international cricket ... starting with Bangers which doesn't get much better for an introductory series. Now Latham has failed and we're stuck with Ronchi for the Champions Trophy. Who looks mentally shot as well. At least if we'd given Blundell a go and decided not to go with him for England then Ronchi would be coming back after a good break and maybe be in a better frame of mind.

Look possibly, I'm not convinced it's purely the keeping thing...that might have contributed slightly, I think he's just horribly out of nick and down on confidence, saying nothing about his technical issue where he falls over towards leg.

 

[akilana]

Kind of depressing that our top order batsmen appear easier to dismiss than SA's tail...

Tbf it is also easier to dismiss SA's top order than its tail

 

[straw man]

I certainly think Latham would benefit from having a sole focus on being the best test opener he can be. Seems a fairly conscientious type and I'd say highly values his preparation leading into test series, and he hasn't had that prep here and has instead had to focus on mastering some other skills.

Selectors probably reasoned that playing ODIs might help him improve strike rotation and that sort of thing, and sometimes that does seem to work for a batsman, but I don't think it's worked for Latham here.

 

[Zinzan]

I certainly think Latham would benefit from having a sole focus on being the best test opener he can be. Seems a fairly conscientious type and I'd say highly values his preparation leading into test series, and he hasn't had that prep here and has instead had to focus on mastering some other skills.

Selectors probably reasoned that playing ODIs might help him improve strike rotation and that sort of thing, and sometimes that does seem to work for a batsman, but I don't think it's worked for Latham here.

I'm not so sure, just because he's been horribly out of form doesn't mean he'll never make it as a dual form opener for me. Remember correlation doesn't always mean causation.

 

[straw man]

Brownlie's injury was after colliding with Santner in the ODI series apparently - don't know what the actual injury is and whether he might be available for the next test.

 

[straw man]

I'm not so sure, just because he's been horribly out of form doesn't mean he'll never make it as a dual form opener for me. Remember correlation doesn't always mean causation.

I know I know, I'm speculating a bit, but meh, that's my general impression.

 

[The Hutt Rec]

Look possibly, I'm not convinced it's purely the keeping thing...that might have contributed slightly, I think he's just horribly out of nick and down on confidence, saying nothing about his technical issue where he falls over towards leg.

Yeah totally, I don't think it's just the keeping, but I think it's played a part. I can't argue with the fact that he's having technical issues atm as well.

 

[Immenso]

Latham's form five also coincided with Bang leaving and SAF arriving. As well as taking up the keeping gloves.

His odi form was ok, and his test form was ok.

Playing both formats was ok.