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

[Isolator]

In fact I think it's hard to argue.

Chris Martin should consider himself very lucky indeed.

Hey, check out www.random.org - it's how Bracewell chooses his team.

Seriously, WTF?! Mills out, Martin stays? Mills, who seems to be the only NZ bowler who's improved a bit, and can bat a bit... left out for Martin?

 

[Loony BoB]

I can only assume Martin is being kept in just to 'add variety to the attack', because that's the only excuse I can think of.

Heaven forbid, two openers making more than 15 runs each!

EDIT: 15.4 Nel to Fulton, 1 run, turns it to short mid wicket for a single, Ntini cuts it off from mid off, that also brings up the fifty for New Zealand!

50/0... who'd've thunk it?

 

[thedarkmullet]

I can only assume Martin is being kept in just to 'add variety to the attack', because that's the only excuse I can think of.

Heaven forbid, two openers making more than 15 runs each!

EDIT: 15.4 Nel to Fulton, 1 run, turns it to short mid wicket for a single, Ntini cuts it off from mid off, that also brings up the fifty for New Zealand!

50/0... who'd've thunk it?

Perhaps this crazy idea of picking opening batsmen has some merit.

 

[_Ed_]

50-1.

 

[Loony BoB]

D'oh!

 

[James]

and Ed just tells me this is the first time someone has chosen to bowl first on this ground in 78 years of Test cricket!

What an amazing statistic!

 

[thedarkmullet]

and Ed just tells me this is the first time someone has chosen to bowl first on this ground in 78 years of Test cricket!

What an amazing statistic!

Odd descision, the two spinners should work well for NZ in the last innings.

 

[Jono]

Brave move from Smith.

 

[Loony BoB]

Peter Fulton c M Boucher b D Steyn 36(62)

62-2 in 21.2 overs

 

[thedarkmullet]

At least the openers did something resembling whats in their job description today.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Perhaps this crazy idea of picking opening batsmen has some merit.

Like...Fulton?

 

[thedarkmullet]

Like...Fulton?

Ones better than nothing, how was I to know Paps would get out the minute I posted?

 

[shaka]

thats gotta hurt

 

[TT Boy]

Pig got one hell of a working over from Ntini, great fast bowling. Also how plumb was Fleming.

 

[NZTailender]

Astle in it seems (according to Cricinfo).

I hope he scores a century. He doesn't have a good record vs South Africa (in either form). And Fleming. His highest score vs the Saffies is 99 (in tests).

 

[_Ed_]

"Astle's 222 was at Jade Stadium in Christchurch...on one of those New Zealand pitches held together by glue"

Honestly.

 

[TT Boy]

"Astle's 222 was at Jade Stadium in Christchurch...on one of those New Zealand pitches held together by glue"

And lady luck is on his side today, after being given not out for what looked like and was a regulation caught behind.

 

[_Ed_]

Very true.

But still, it annoys me that because one pitch in 1999 was held together by glue, the South African commentator assumes they all are.

 

[TT Boy]

New Zealand doing well here, both players are fortunate to be there but you make your own luck in life and the pitch seems to be getting more easier and manageable to bat on though surprisingly Boje looks rather threatening. If they don’t lose too many tonight, they should take control come tomorrow afternoon when the pitch should be at it's best.

 

[Blaze]

The commentators have been really poor... Ian Bishop should try and be more neutral to balance things out a bit.