*Official* South Africa in New Zealand 2022

[Pup Clarke]

Keshav is such a quality player. Good bowler, can bat, good fielder, and going off his celebrations he helped set the field that lead to Nicholl's dismissal in the 1st innings too.

All-pace attacks are anti-cricket and any surface that encourages that should be reported as Poor and the groundsmen sanctioned IMO.

Yep he's a lovely bowler to watch. Natural athlete and is handy with the bat too. Hopefully he has at least 3-4 years at this level as he's a quality operator

 

[WpGuy]

I'm guessing if our spinner was hit for two sixes in one over at home, he'd have been taken off. This applies to school, club, first class and international ? Maharaj since has bowled 9 overs in a row.

They did that to me in club cricket once and old boys game after I had also almost taken two wickets in same over, but the fast bowlers who did f/all but no 6s get bowled through so dumb!

 

[WpGuy]

Tbh, I just think the team is starting to get a bit old. Wagner and CdG losing pace, KW struggling with injuries, Boult spending more and more time out of the team to balance work and family life, Taylor and BJ retiring etc etc. We'd hoped that KJ, Conway, Blundell and Mitchell would patch things over for a few years, and I think they will to a certain extent. But when you look at the team-sheet now and compare it to the one from last June, it's pretty clear that our expectations will need to be a bit more measured in the future.

Did anyone seriously expect NZ to pick a spinner after this attack kept SA to 205/20 last week? At the end of the day, the only grounds in NZ that I'd consider playing a spinner are Bay Oval and the Tron. The reality is, SA batted bloody well on the morning of day 1, NZ dropped vital chances in the afternoon, and as a result they ended up posting a first innings effort that was 50-100 above par. NZ's top order then pooed themselves and SA have done enough since to more or less wrap up the match. Sometimes you've gotta accept that the opposition played well and NZ played poorly.

what's point of 5 fast bowlers though might as well play 3 have cdg and your other dude there as 4 and 5 then and play extra batsman.

 

[WpGuy]

As much as there are still issues with the team, Boucher does seem to be starting to get it right as a coach. The first test was a dismal performance, but it was something of an anomaly given the team's recent performances, which being able to bounce back in such a fashion has proved.

Ryan vrede and that other dude with the agenda forgot the tools name, will have heart strokes with your Boucher compliments hahaha

 

[Dendarii]

that other dude with the agenda forgot the tools name,

Mark Keohane? That's the first name which comes to mind as a tool with an agenda.

 

[Heboric]

Mark Keohane

 

[Chrish]

You might know better through domestix but Mulder has done nothing so far at international level to be termed as genuinely good.

Yeah bit disappointed with all that hype when he was debuting. Hope he doesn’t t just end up being a domestic miracle.

 

[slippy888]

Why Williamson never in the NZ team lately

 

[Frost]

Is it overreaction? And will we win in England?

There's holes in this side. The selection of Young as an opener is a misstep. Latham can't score runs v top 6 opposition. Kane is injured a lot. Ross is gone. Blundell is unreliable. Jamieson has hit a flat patch. We can't rely on CdG's bowling potentially as much as in the past. Wagner is down 6-8km. We're not the side we were last year or 2-3 years ago.

And SAF having all the luck seems to be me to be bunkum. They played far better cricket. Both teams got to do what they wanted at the toss, and SA were especially noteworthy in batting and making it count. They've exposed us a little bit. They've knocked over our top order twice cheaply, and our bowling plans have looked average when we can't take wickets up front and Wagner can't bounce them out any more.

If we don't win in England then I'm worried, Conway should be opening. I'm happy enough with young getting a extended run at 4 or 5, he's a good player but I'm not sure about him opening. The kj 'flat patch' was predicted after his debut, every one who's starts off like him goes through it. I think we need to ease up on the whole "blundell under pressure" he's a very good keeper and there's no one withing touching distance right now.
Saf have been good, the luck thing was tounge and cheek of course you make your own luck by having good bowling plans. Nz just been a little flat.

 

[ataraxia]

I think we need to ease up on the whole "blundell under pressure" he's a very good keeper and there's no one withing touching distance right now.

Fletcher and Cleaver are both in excellent form and are the reserve batters pretty much. Of course Blundell's under pressure.

 

[Immenso]

oh I'm all more sears or even fisher getting a run, but surely lockie gets a call-up first if waggy goes

I think Ajaz will be the Wagner replacement. He will get selected for all conditions.

 

[Frost]

Fletcher and Cleaver are both in excellent form and are the reserve batters pretty much. Of course Blundell's under pressure.

Well I think that's half the problem, guys scores some runs in first class and all of a sudden a guy that's playing the highest level who's also been moved around the order is " under pressure". Not saying those guys arnt good prospects but we are talking about a guy who scored a century in his first game and also scored a century opening in Australia and in the last game on a green pitch got 96. But yea under pressure sure thing

 

[Immenso]

Well I think that's half the problem, guys scores some runs in first class and all of a sudden a guy that's playing the highest level who's also been moved around the order is " under pressure". Not saying those guys arnt good prospects but we are talking about a guy who scored a century in his first game and also scored a century opening in Australia and in the last game on a green pitch got 96. But yea under pressure sure thing

They are considered better keepers. Proper specialists, who have both been scoring truckloads of runs.

It's not diving for 2 edges falling 2 meters short of first slip that will have Blundell under pressure. Once, ok. But twice, questions his keepers instincts.

 

[vandem]

... Well I think that's half the problem, guys scores some runs in first class and all of a sudden a guy that's playing the highest level who's also been moved around the order is " under pressure". Not saying those guys arnt good prospects but we are talking about a guy who scored a century in his first game and also scored a century opening in Australia and in the last game on a green pitch got 96. But yea under pressure sure thing

Or ...

Blundell has only made test runs this summer is when it didn't matter (Ban 2nd test started his innings of 57* when NZ were 5-423 batting first, SA 1st test started his innings of 96 when NZ were 5-239 in reply to SA 95), and that some knowledgeable commentators (e.g. John Bracewell) think his keeping footwork needs improvement. Like an anti-Watling.

 

[Meridio]

I've said this before on here, but I think around 3-5 years ago Blundell was keeping very well, but the long period of being Watling's understudy and hence never playing, along with the move to opening the batting, has really impacted him. Everything looks less smooth, the setup doesn't look quite right, his footwork is patchy and he gets cast in position. He's athletic so is always capable of taking the spectacular ones like yesterday, but it's the more regulation stuff where he can get exposed. Haven't seen anywhere near enough of Fletcher or Cleaver keeping to have any idea of their ability, and while they've been good with the bat obviously they aren't playing against international attacks. Would be good to see them in some ODI stuff later this summer though.

 

[nzfan]

I think Ajaz will be the Wagner replacement. He will get selected for all conditions.

Hope so and in the process if other spinners are looked at that'd be awesome. I don't think we can sustain good results relying on 4 fast bowling options. I do think Ajaz at best has two years at most to offer.

Spin is a huge area of concern. We have picked three spinners lately, Ajaz, Sommerville and Ravindra. Sommerville is done for all practical purposes I presume at international cricket. If that's the case then both Ajaz and Ravindra needs to be given a reasonable run at home and overseas. You can't have them playing one or two games here and there and expect them to make a difference. They need to be bowling good number of overs to build their form. Ajaz isn't getting any younger either, he must be like 33 right now. Of late he's been battling injuries as well.

If Ravindra needs to be picked as a spin option then first he needs to bowl at domestic cricket when he's playing for firebirds. Just looked up and he bowled 74 overs two seasons ago for firebirds, that's 9 overs per match or 4.5 overs per inning and 4 overs this season for firebirds (he's only played like two first class games). The numbers aren't that bad, averaging like 26 with the ball and SR of 47 over the last couple of season but considering the number of overs he bowls for firebirds you can't take him seriously as a spinner.

Outside of Ajaz, Rippon is reasonable and that's about it. We don't have the stock in spin bowling option unless we start to look at Ish or Santner all over again.

They should start looking at Sears seriously. Disappointingly they picked Tickener in the squad. Sears with his height and pace brings a point of difference. I'd be hugely disappointed if he's not in the squad for UK tour later this year.

 

[Flem274*]

Not a fan of having all of Southee, Boult and Henry in the same lineup unless the conditions demand it.

yeah has a distinct whiff of england

 

[nzfan]

Or ...

Blundell has only made test runs this summer is when it didn't matter (Ban 2nd test started his innings of 57* when NZ were 5-423 batting first, SA 1st test started his innings of 96 when NZ were 5-239 in reply to SA 95), and that some knowledgeable commentators (e.g. John Bracewell) think his keeping footwork needs improvement. Like an anti-Watling.

Blundell probably is the best batsman/keeper out there. He's been moved up and down the order and he has coped very well. Was really surprised Cam was picked as a backup keeper for this series. Just because someone's doing all right at domestic doesn't necessarily mean it will translate to international cricket. Both Dane and Cam may be doing really well but there's only one spot in the side for a keeper unfortunately. I just hope they don't try to slot in keepers as batsmen in the side.

 

[WpGuy]

Mark Keohane? That's the first name which comes to mind as a tool with an agenda.

Nail on head

 

[straw man]

Should be an interesting day of cricket. I say 'day' which is hopeful, as an early wicket here, especially Conway, and I could see it all ending very quickly.

Conway needs to bat all day.