*Official* 2024 South Africa tour of New Zealand: 2 tests

[SteveNZ]

Absolutely, full praise to SA for the way they went about it. Gee, they could've/should've won this one and probably competed much harder in the second. Their core skills were pretty good, they set good fields, but they fielded like chumps in the first Test and butchered it with the bat when it mattered in the second.

But there are some classy cricketers in there. Bedingham is all class. Piedt is quality but might be surplus anywhere other than the sub-continent if he can't score runs, Paterson looked very tidy and Moreki has a bit about him, as well. I don't see it in de Swardt, but he certainly wasn't overawed.

 

[_Ed_]

Poor O'Rourke isn't that comfortable with the TV interviews yet, is he? Hopefully it'll come a bit easier in future - if this performance is anything to go by, he's going to get a bit of practice.

 

[SteveNZ]

Going to pull O'Rourke aside in the SteveNZ XI changing rooms and have a word about his general swagger. You're well over 6 foot, good looking in TH's eyes, and just won your country a Test on debut. Bit more strut for the Aussie series, please.

 

[StephenZA]

South Africa have fought hard and found some solid cricketers on this tour. Of those who didn't quite make it, I would still look upon them favorably in future for roles if I was SA selector. They chose to tour here.

Bedingham, de Swardt should roll straight in. Piedt back to second spinner at least? Paterson showed he could do a job at home too.

The only one who chose to tour here was Bedingham. I don't believe any of the others withdrew their names, they just did not get picked up by the SA20.

I'm incredibly disappointed with the batting outside Bedingham. The bowler's did exactly as I expected, and put in a good effort. Unfortunately none of them can surpass the high quality available. The only two players I can see getting selected off this tour is Bedingham and De Swardt.

 

[Smudge]

Jan Smuts, Frikk Du Preez, Hugh Tayfield, Trevor Noah, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Francois Pienaar, Charlize Theron... your boys took a hell of a beating.

 

[Smudge]

But a very game effort from the Proteas who did turn up.

 

[King Kane]

Great to finally win a test series against SA but it's a bit hollow when it wasn't against their full strength line up.

We still got some positives out of it with Williamson scoring another 3 tons, Ravindra scoring a double ton and O'Rourke getting 9 wickets in this test.

Some positives for SA too, Bedingham, de Swardt and Piedt all performed well in this series and should all be in the mix for selection in their A team.

A much tougher test series coming up for us against Australia, if we can win that series we will have something to really crow about.

..

 

[StephenZA]

But a very game effort from the Proteas who did turn up.

Be very careful of blaming the players. Most of the first choice players already had contracts they could not get out of for the SA20. They did not have a choice to forgo the SA20 and come to NZ and play. CSA made sure if that

 

[The Hutt Rec]

Ian Leggat doing ok for almost 94. Nice touch having him present the shield.

 

[StephenZA]

Some positives for SA too, Bedingham, de Swardt and Piedt all performed well in this series and should all be in the mix for selection in their A team.

Unfortunately Piedt is not likely to get past Maharaj or Harmer. Only selection likely is for sub continent. And more likely to take a bowling allrounder like Muthusamy.

 

[jcas0167]

Ian Leggat doing ok for almost 94. Nice touch having him present the shield.

Yeah, also saw him being interviewed during the lunch break while at Backbencher. Sound was off but thought it was pretty cool of NZC to have someone from that famous 53/54 tour along for the test. Incidentally, I see we got a 5 test series back then!

 

[Dendarii]

The only one who chose to tour here was Bedingham. I don't believe any of the others withdrew their names, they just did not get picked up by the SA20.

I think Brand may have also withdrawn, but he would have been the only other one.

 

[Prince EWS]

The only one who chose to tour here was Bedingham. I don't believe any of the others withdrew their names, they just did not get picked up by the SA20.

Centrally contracted players literally weren't allowed to skip the SA20 draft.

 

[Bahnz]

Yeah, also saw him being interviewed during the lunch break while at Backbencher. Sound was off but thought it was pretty cool of NZC to have someone from that famous 53/54 tour along for the test. Incidentally, I see we got a 5 test series back then!

Do you think you got the gist of it?

 

[Prince EWS]

I think Brand may have also withdrawn, but he would have been the only other one.

If Brand can hold a spot as an opening bat (which is a big if, tbf), his bowling will help with balance issues a lot when SA want to go with four frontline quicks - could just play a specialist bat at 6 then.

 

[morgieb]

Regardless of bowling quality, hell of a series from Big Daddy Kane.

Also a pretty smart and mature innings from Young. Did struggle early but dug in and unlike the first innings didn't throw his wicket away. At the very least probably is the first reserve now, and if Conway/Latham keep struggling he might yet get a proper run at it.

For South Africa.....well Bedingham looks good. What would frustrate is that there's a lot of guys (thinking van Tonder/Hamza) who looked decent before getting out. Like one of them had the chance to lock down another Top 3 slot (assuming the Top 5 contains Markram, de Zorzi, Bedingham and Bavuma), but couldn't take it. The bowlers look OK but probably are behind too many. Piedt looks a lot better than I remember though.

 

[jcas0167]

Do you think you got the gist of it?

He could have been saying his side would have wiped the floor with this lot for all I could tell Cool to be able to watch home games at the Backbencher (and later Trax) again too.

 

[Bahseph]

Well done to NZ. Couldn't see the series being anything but 2-0 except if there was weather about but SA performed well for the most part. The lack of quality showed at key moments but I think they went better than expected.

Only really see Bedingham, de Swardt,Brand and perhaps Piedt around from this lot. Hamza might be in and around the Test squad but I think he is behind Stubbs and Petersen now.

 

[The_CricketUmpire]

 

[Hurricane2]

It must be hard thinking of good interview questions and I couldn't do it. That said I thought Richardson's post match interview questions were a bit flat.
"So young Will O'Rourke, it must be really hard with all the mechanics of your action to get the ball actually coming out consistently, you must have been happy you bowled ok?"
"Yeah I guess I got lucky and it came out ok".

What is he trying to do? Talk O'Rourke into getting the yips? Luckily it only happens to spinners and slow mediums normally.
There was a questionable question to Kane as well which Kane with all his media training didn't address and gave a sound bite answer instead.

I am sure Richardson will do better next time and his last interview with Southee was much better. No one is perfect !!!