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

[Perm]

Surely Bracewell will restore some order to our batting line-up after this game. He's got about two weeks to sort it out before the next test. Papps and How to open, Marshall probably at number 3 over Fulton if he gets some runs here and the rest sorts itself out.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Why is Bracewell copping all the blame? It seems a bit at the moment in NZ that if the heirachy makes a bad decision, it was Bracewell's - if it was a good one then it must have been Fleming's.

 

[Loony BoB]

Because Bracewell is making the decisions, not the selection panel. Bracewell makes up for 90% of the power in that panel.

EDIT: And I've never said any good decision was Fleming's unless it's a decision made during the game, because Fleming was making good decisions on the ground long before Bracewell was on the scene. Bracewell makes bad selections, and that's the only thing we blame on him. Fleming most certainly does not have much say in selections, if any at all.

 

[BlackCap_Fan]

Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, sounds like us.

C'mon Mccullum and Marshall it's time to stand up.

I'll watch this later tonight. Hopefully, I won't just watch NZ get all out for under 50.

 

[sportychic33]

yay. the light may save us for now. what a dissapointing day after the efforts in the previous 3 days including the awesome partnership between Oram and Vettori on day two.
Anyone know the weather forecast for today and tomorrow?

 

[vic_orthdox]

Because Bracewell is making the decisions, not the selection panel. Bracewell makes up for 90% of the power in that panel.

EDIT: And I've never said any good decision was Fleming's unless it's a decision made during the game, because Fleming was making good decisions on the ground long before Bracewell was on the scene. Bracewell makes bad selections, and that's the only thing we blame on him. Fleming most certainly does not have much say in selections, if any at all.

There's every likelihood then that the decision to elevate Mills up the order was Flemings'. I personally don't think it was that bad a move, anyways.

 

[Smudge]

I'm staggered that there's no-one (on paper) who was any better than Vettori.

The thing about spin bowlers in NZ cricket is that they were - and still are - more often than not considered to be an afterthought, or a last resort, for captains.

Add the seaming nature of our tracks into the mix, and it's not hard to see why we don't have a culture of spin bowling in the country.

I was basically taught by Billy Ibadulla to set my own fields, as he said (and he was right) that even senior grade captains wouldn't have a clue how to set a field for a leggie.

 

[Smudge]

Personally, I think it was a bad decision to move Mills up. To the outsider looking in, it's appears as though Bracewell/Fleming/both have no confidence in their middle order, whereas it must make Mills wonder what the middle order are trying to hide from.

They're picked as batsmen - use them as batsmen, no matter how good Mills' technique is supposed to be.

And that pitch is a deadset disgrace. Never mind our greentops - you can at least play for movement. But bounce like that doesn't give any batsman a chance.

 

[Loony BoB]

There's every likelihood then that the decision to elevate Mills up the order was Flemings'. I personally don't think it was that bad a move, anyways.

I actually liked the decision to move Mills up the order, even if it didn't pay off. I'm one of those few that have been saying he may as well open.

 

[Blaze]

And that pitch is a deadset disgrace. Never mind our greentops - you can at least play for movement. But bounce like that doesn't give any batsman a chance.

Kallis said last night that he has been dissapointed with the pitches all summer. I agree this pitch is a shocker. Unpredictable bounce from Day 1? Still, South Africa have used the new ball a lot better than we did.

 

[Macka]

There's every likelihood then that the decision to elevate Mills up the order was Flemings'. I personally don't think it was that bad a move, anyways.

Yellow is what it is. Simply pathetic. You reckon Pointing would have done the same? This just continues to show that Fleming is incapable of standing up as captain. I don't know how we will ever win consistantly with a mentally inadequate captain.

 

[TT Boy]

Anyone know the weather forecast for today and tomorrow?

According to Yahoo weather, partly cloudy with 77 being the high, does not look like the weather is going to interfere with this game.

 

[Loony BoB]

Let's just hope that we win the toss when we next play on a bad pitch (not taking anything away from SA's performance - those who win are generally deserving).

I really really hope that the other two pitches aren't this bad, though.

 

[TT Boy]

and ill bet marshall will get a crappy 30 not out and be kept in the tea for the next game

Deservedly so as well, at least he has the bottle to stick it out.

 

[Loony BoB]

We'll see. 35 balls is not sticking it out, and I don't want to make any jinxing assumptions. :S I have to say that I'm not any more convinced of Fulton or How's abilities as test openers as I am of Marshall. I'd prefer the likes of Papps, Vincent or Sinclair, personally, but I don't expect to get my way on that regard.

 

[TT Boy]

We'll see. 35 balls is not sticking it out, and I don't want to make any jinxing assumptions. :S

In the context of this innings and how his team-mates have faired it is.

 

[Loony BoB]

Just because it's relatively good doesn't mean it's good enough. There are players not in the squad who I feel could have done better. They're also more deserving. Marshall has given no evidence of being in form for a complete year now, and I don't see why the likes of Papps should be overlooked because Marshall was good "way back when". But I wouldn't object to Papps coming in for Fulton, either. But Marshall's inclusion is, as far as I'm concerned, unjustified.

 

[Blaze]

Just because it's relatively good doesn't mean it's good enough. There are players not in the squad who I feel could have done better.

wtf? Marshall has done well here. He has looked safe and gutsy on a dire wicket. When 6 wickets fall and one of your openers is still out there you know he is doing ok.

Sure he has been horrible all summer but give the guy credit where it's due...

 

[Loony BoB]

And I'll say it again, there are players who I feel could have done better.

If Mills, Martin, Oram and Franklin were all bowling well, would that be reason to not play Bond?

 

[Autobahn]

The idea behind sending Mills in at number 3 had a degree of sense behind it, to see off the new ball which has accounted for most of the wickets and let the other batsmen score runs when the ball was older.

Unfortunley i can't see how Fleming and/or Bracewell thought he would survive 10-15 overs on a pitch that is looking like a very hard track to bat on.