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

[Days of Grace]

And it's not as if we are going to win the ****ing toss and bat first.

 

[TheBrand]

Latham should be dropped from ODIs to focus on his test game more I think. As previously pointed out by someone Raval did a lot better once he had time out from international cricket.

3rd Test Team (imo):
1. Raval
2. Latham
3. KW
4. Broom
5. Nicholls
6. Watling
7. Santner
8. Patel
9. Southee
10. Wagner
11. Boult

ODI Team going into Champions Trophy (my wishlist)
1. Guptill
2. Phillips (wk)
3. KW (c)
4. Taylor
5. Broom/Nicholls
6. Neesham
7. Santner
8. CdG
9. Southee
10. McClenaghan
11. Boult

 

[Flem274*]

maharaj has just taken wickets in a country where even herath struggled. credit where it's due ffs.

 

[StephenZA]

I feel like you are judging him by numbers rather than what he is actually bowling to be honest. Like when people used to pretend Moeen could bowl because he ran through India early on.

I`m judging him by the fact he performed well domestically, exceptionally well, and has subsequently got into the SA side and done everything and more asked of him.

He has not run through one team once, he has performed well against 3 different teams in unfriendly spin conditions. The numbers were just to illustrate a point. He is a very good spin bowler who beats batsmen in the air more than anything else. I don't expect him as a finger spinner to get prodigious turn generally, I expect him to bowl accurate and tight.

 

[Zinzan]

maharaj has just taken wickets in a country where even herath struggled. credit where it's due ffs.

That's all well & good but does the same credit apply to Duminy too? Or at what stage can we just say New Zealand were simply diabolical rather than the bowling being that good?

 

[StephenZA]

That's all well & good but does the same credit apply to Duminy too? Or at what stage can we just say New Zealand were simply diabolical rather than the bowling being that good?

One does not contradict the other; NZ did not bat well that does not mean that Maharaj did not bowl a good spell. The SA pacers put NZ batsmen under pressure and they attacked Maharaj who was bowling well and lost their wickets in silly fashion. Nobody is saying Maharaj is the greatest, we just ask a little respect is shown for a bowler who has done pretty well in his short career so far, not just in this match but in most of the matches he has played.

Getting out to Duminy is just dumb though....

 

[Zinzan]

One does not contradict the other; NZ did not bat well that does not mean that Maharaj did not bowl a good spell. The SA pacers put NZ batsmen under pressure and they attacked Maharaj who was bowling well and lost their wickets in silly fashion. Nobody is saying Maharaj is the greatest, we just ask a little respect is shown for a bowler who has done pretty well in his short career so far, not just in this match but in most of the matches he has played.

Getting out to Duminy is just dumb though....

Agree with all of that & he does deserve respect, just felt the premise that somehow it counted against Herath was a bit daft.

 

[Neil Young]

Stephen, I now have a picture of Maharaj on my wall and will pay daily homage to it. I will also pay homage on behalf of all NZ cricket fans. I will dedicate my life to it.

I'll look to extend my hours down the line to include fans of all other cricketing nations. This is Maharaj we are talking about after all.

 

[kykweer.proteas]

I said this a few months ago during thebaustralian series. But if Keshav played most of his cricket in the sub continent his stats would have been scary.

 

[kykweer.proteas]

Keshav is the perfect fit in the proteas contest. He is not the danger bowler in the team he will never be a murali. Our pace will always be the key, however just like paul harris he is crucial to the team and batsmen will get themselves out against him.

He balances our bowling attack perfectly.

 

[kykweer.proteas]

Paul harris will never be an ajmal, but his magnus opus was outbowling pakistan spinners in their home conditions when he was required to. If Keshav can do half of that he will play test cricket for a long time... or at least till shamsi or piedt unseats him.

 

[StephenZA]

Stephen, I now have a picture of Maharaj on my wall and will pay daily homage to it. I will also pay homage on behalf of all NZ cricket fans. I will dedicate my life to it.

I'll look to extend my hours down the line to include fans of all other cricketing nations. This is Maharaj we are talking about after all.

Not good enough, I expect at least a tattoo...

 

[Neil Young]

I've actually arranged for his picture to be on all NZ first class stamps. I feel this should suffice.

 

[SeamUp]

Hmm, Neil Manthorp is saying that Duanne Olivier is coming home.

https://twitter.com/NeilManthorp/status/843782432889290752

He isn't the best limited overs bowler.

But I have noticed the Knights have left out du Plooy and returned to 3 batsman-2 bowlers for the white contingent so probably awaiting Olivier's return.

 

[veganbob]

Latham should be dropped from ODIs to focus on his test game more I think. As previously pointed out by someone Raval did a lot better once he had time out from international cricket.

3rd Test Team (imo):
1. Raval
2. Latham
3. KW
4. Broom
5. Nicholls
6. Watling
7. Santner
8. Patel
9. Southee
10. Wagner
11. Boult

ODI Team going into Champions Trophy (my wishlist)
1. Guptill
2. Phillips (wk)
3. KW (c)
4. Taylor
5. Broom/Nicholls
6. Neesham
7. Santner
8. CdG
9. Southee
10. McClenaghan
11. Boult

The champions trophy team looks good but why neesham? He is now just a part time bowler and he isnt good enough to bat at 7 in odis esp not in big tournament. Bring anderson if he can bowl or just another batsman at 6 will do.

 

[TheBrand]

The champions trophy team looks good but why neesham? He is now just a part time bowler and he isnt good enough to bat at 7 in odis esp not in big tournament. Bring anderson if he can bowl or just another batsman at 6 will do.

Yeah I was going off the assumption that Anderson wont be able to bowl, but if he is I'd have him over Neesham any day.

 

[Mike5181]

Anderson's actually bowling again btw. Not much, just a few overs in the last two first-class games, but it's some good news regardless.

 

[The Hutt Rec]

Neesham has batted very well in ODIs this season and deserves a spot, I think. It's a shame he can't reproduce that form in the test team, but oh well.

Taking nothing away from Maharaj at all, but how much do you all think his wickets have been down the the other bowlers? The South African pacers have been brilliant from what I've seen ... I think the NZ batsmen have mentally taken the foot off the pedal when they've come off and thought the threat was over. It's seemed like that a few times at least to me ... then at other times like Raval in the second innings at the Basin Maharaj was just all over him, no doubt about it.

 

[straw man]

The champions trophy team looks good but why neesham? He is now just a part time bowler and he isnt good enough to bat at 7 in odis esp not in big tournament. Bring anderson if he can bowl or just another batsman at 6 will do.

In ODIs, Neesham has batted better against quality opposition than Anderson has, so I agree with TheBrand putting him at six.

Anderson can compete with CDG to bat at seven, bowl a bit and finish off the batting innings. Some might argue he should have the number 5 spot, but I disagree, as I don't think he's good enough at turning over the strike.

@TheBrand: Phillips opening and keeping sounds great for the balance of the side, though from other comments it's not clear if his keeping is up to it. Ben Horne currently preferred as Auckland's keeper in FC.

 

[SeamUp]

QdK went for scans yesterday on injured finger and may miss 3rd test.

Over to you Heinrich Klaasen.