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

[oz_fan]

NZ all out for 119.
Ntini gets a 5-for

 

[straw man]

These collapses happen far too often for my comfort...a test team should never get out for under 150 in the first innings, we come dangerously close to it in the first match and now its just unacceptable.

I agree. We can't expect the lower order to bail us out every time. I see on cricinfo our batsmen 7-11 historically contribute the highest percentage of runs for any team except bangladesh (from memory). Today we lost 3 for 2 runs at the start, 3 for 3 runs in the middle and 3 for 1 run at the end.

 

[Sw1fty]

Disgraceful batting display by the NZ batsman

 

[Steulen]

The NZ tailend contribution is actually higher than the Bangladeshi one; only Zimbabwe relies more on its tail than NZ, according to the CricInfo article. That is just...sad

 

[thedarkmullet]

Bring back Mark Richardson...at least he could grind it out. I know he retired at his own will but i'm sure the combined salries of the other top order batsmen should convince him.

 

[marc71178]

I can understand Pollock not opening, but why would he be bowling behind Andrew Hall!?

Could it be to do with choice of ends, and the way Ntini started, he wasn't going to be taken off that early?

 

[oz_fan]

Dippenaar bowled by Martin for a golden duck.

 

[thedarkmullet]

Woohoo! An NZ like collapse is surely on the cards now!

 

[Sw1fty]

Good start for the Kiwis

 

[marc71178]

Styris is just fine. I still think he'd do better if he played at #3, though.

How would that have changed things today though?

 

[NZTailender]

lol, Martin. If he takes a 5-fer-not-many I will be both relieved yet annoyed, because it's Martin!


I still stand by Mills >> Martin btw.

 

[Sw1fty]

Good length delivery from Martin, came back in a long way and clips toe of bat & into the woodwork.

 

[marc71178]

The NZ tailend contribution is actually higher than the Bangladeshi one; only Zimbabwe relies more on its tail than NZ, according to the CricInfo article. That is just...sad

However they also average considerably more per man than any other side (and that's with Chris Martin included as one of the 5!)

For me that list is ridiculously skewed by including number 7 - in Australia's case that man accounts for about 10 of the combined average hence they're so "close"

 

[Loony BoB]

marc - I don't think it would have changed anything about today - I haven't seen the dismissal but it looks to me like the SA bowling was just too good or the pitch was just too bad. Either that or it was a combined lack of effort from the entire NZ team outside of Fleming, which sadly wouldn't surprise me.

I think overall, though, Styris is more suited to that position.

 

[Steulen]

I agree that including the no.7 as a tailender is pretty ridiculous. However, just saying that NZ tailenders are better batsmen than other tailenders wouldn't be right. NZ top and middle order players all average in the high 30's, including Fleming, and that is just poor.

 

[Loony BoB]

I agree that including the no.7 as a tailender is pretty ridiculous. However, just saying that NZ tailenders are better batsmen than other tailenders wouldn't be right. NZ top and middle order players all average in the high 30's, including Fleming, and that is just poor.

Not including Fleming, actually. Fleming and Oram average over 40 (Fleming on 40.17), and before this series I'm pretty sure Styris did too.

 

[alternative]

Great bowling by Ntini, i would want to see a repeat performance from kiwi's now.. to make this match interesting..

 

[NZTailender]

Not including Fleming, actually. Fleming and Oram average over 40 (Fleming on 40.17), and before this series I'm pretty sure Styris did too.

Yeah Styris was over 40. People seem to forget his 100 vs WI recently and 50* in the last test (at number 3!!).

 

[NZTailender]

Great bowling by Ntini, i would want to see a repeat performance from kiwi's now.. to make this match interesting..

In 2005/2006 in 8 tests (?) Ntini has 48 wickets. Great stuff!

 

[alternative]

that is a superb stat about Ntini.. great going..