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

[NZTailender]

Amla out. Martin's 100th test wicket. Congrats to him...

Edit: Haha I need to clean my glasses. Mills got him. Martin still on 99 wickets...

 

[Sw1fty]

Jacob Oram left the field earlier today with a back problem after bowling only 2 overs which is causing concern.

 

[shaka]

lucky there is a break for the kiwis after this test.

 

[shaka]

now 4 down as tea arrives. 50 runs left, 6wkts remaining!

 

[NZTailender]

Hmm, really will be an exciting last session.

 

[Nate]

Steyn on a seaming wicket = Champion, regardless of how he bowls.

 

[jot1]

Fat lady is starting to warm up her voice.......20 to go....

 

[alternative]

200 runs on board.. as prince and boucher close the target down..

 

[jot1]

Yes!

 

[alternative]

ouch! hope polly is alrite..

 

[NZTailender]

Congrats to South Africa. Exciting finish in the end!

 

[alternative]

great one.. saffies win 2 - 0.. wohooo

 

[NZTailender]

Great series by Ntini and Fleming. Ntini easily MOTS though. Special mentions to Franklin & Steyn (looks a quality bowler to partner Ntini with the new ball?). I guess you can throw in Oram, Amla & Prince (all with centuries). Starting to like Prince more and more actually.


And Mills 8 wickets in 2 tests versus Martin's 9 in 3 makes my claim of Mills >> Martin is fairly valid and safe.

I like to hear myself...err..type....

 

[jot1]

Made my day....2 wins for me, Saffies and Schumie

 

[jot1]

Mom = Smith Mos = Ntini

 

[Isolator]

Martin and Franklin should be shot for that opening spell... and the one in with the second new ball in the second innings of the first match. Two crucial spells, both screwed up royally.

 

[Natman20]

The series result was predictable before they started. Will we ever win a series over there?

 

[James]

and more importantly will Bracewell "learn" anything from this tour?

My thoughts:

1) We missed Vincent clearly, he simply has to come back, probably for Styris.
2) Without Bond, we lack a "fast" bowler, Mills/Franklin/Martin are all low 130's. We need someone who will hurry batsmen up. Butler and that Canterbury seamer spring to mind.
3) The opening positions, I'm thinking we may have to go back to the likes of Matthew Bell. Perhaps open the batting with Bell and Sinclair, too experienced players who have been there, done that.
4) Fulton continues to be the most over-rated cricketer in New Zealand.
5) Vettori, continues to improve with the bat, but when is he going to win us a Test with the ball? If it wasn't for his batting, I'd select Jeetan Patel over him.

 

[Sw1fty]

Styris & Astle both had a tours to be ashamed of really. Neither did their jobs properly. Jamie How continued to prove he is not up to test cricket.

 

[James]

This is the team I'd like to see take the field next time (subject to fitness obviously).

Matthew Bell
Matthew Sinclair
Stephen Fleming
Lou Vincent
Nathan Astle/Scott Styris
Jacob Oram
Brendon McCullum
Daniel Vettori
James Franklin
Ian Butler
Shane Bond