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

[Raghav]

Once again Kiwis top order proved what they are capable of !!!!!!!

They atleast got some starts. Thats positive for the rest of the tour. Its just the 1st inngs of the tour, and its normal before they adjust.

 

[sunilreddy]

They atleast got some starts. Thats positive for the rest of the tour. Its just the 1st inngs of the tour, and its normal before they adjust.

South African XI bowling attack is after all a second string one and not even one batsmen from the Newzealand top 5 scored a fifty. How come they can cope up with the likes of Steyn, Ntini, Nel and party in their own yard.

 

[whitedazzler]

now lets cut the crap here for a sec. im a die hard nz fan but i really can't see the team thats been selected to do anything of note against South Africa. If we win a game ill be surprised, i mean gareth hopkins as a specalist batsmen are you kidding me, look at his stats. But thinking about it apart from Neil Broom who else could you pick batting wise

 

[Athlai]

now lets cut the crap here for a sec. im a die hard nz fan but i really can't see the team thats been selected to do anything of note against South Africa. If we win a game ill be surprised, i mean gareth hopkins as a specalist batsmen are you kidding me, look at his stats. But thinking about it apart from Neil Broom who else could you pick batting wise

Chris Harris



Gun effort by Vettori (and McCullum), good to see Martin at his usual best, Fleming got off to a good start but out straight after lunch.

Still worries at the top, and I would like to see the tail extended, yet as Franklins still injured this is unlucky (though Patel could score a few more runs than the likes of Martin easily).

First game for a while for a lot of these players so I'm not too worried and everyone that's jumping on our top order hating bandwagon should keep that in mind.

Plus Oram isn't more consistent, he has a higher average because he bats lower in the order and scores more not outs, looking at his record he's not consistent at all, he scores heavily or not at all. Good cricketer but not reliable, certainly not more so than Styris or Fleming. (Though with the rest of NZ's batting wouldn't be surprised if he was 3rd in that list).


Hoping to see a good bowling effort from Bond, Vettori, Styris and Oram. Mason or Martin can also play well too, but one has to go for 7 an over or I will be an unhappy chappy.

 

[Flem274*]

You guys overrate technique. Oram is a better batsman than guys like sincair, papps, cumming. I don't care where he bats, runs are runs and he is more consistant than fleming too. Atleast he doesn't look clueless vs Australia like Flem does.

I don't see how you couldn't rate oram's batting! He has scored a lot of runs under pressure vs Australia and south africa. Something that only a handful of NZ players have done in the past 10 years. you are confusing his odi inconsistent batting with his tests. He is a much better test batsman.

Here are some stats- overall test batting average - 39
Last 15 tests average- 46.

After a slow start he has been very conistent. By NZ standards that a great record so far and he hasn't done it by bullying weak teams. He would easily make the NZ test team on batting alone.

Interestingly for all the people that are Fleming stans here his averages 41 in his last 15 tests despite scoring 262 in one innings.. I'm sure you guys are gonna come up with something to make it seem like he is doing better though. I'm not saying he shouldn't be in the side, not at all- I like fleming but in test cricket at the moment he is no better than guys like styris and oram who actually do better than fleming vs good attacks.

When I'm running this country I'm going to deport you to a small desert island.

 

[Athlai]

When I'm running this country I'm going to deport you to a small dessert island.

Delicious.

 

[Matt52]

now lets cut the crap here for a sec. im a die hard nz fan but i really can't see the team thats been selected to do anything of note against South Africa. If we win a game ill be surprised, i mean gareth hopkins as a specalist batsmen are you kidding me, look at his stats. But thinking about it apart from Neil Broom who else could you pick batting wise

Jesse Ryder

And remember too that 2m peter will be back in a while so with him there it doesnt look as bad.

 

[NZTailender]

You're agreeing with psxpro?

I agree with his general sentiment - that Oram is better than whats been said recently.

In fact, we had a bit of an Oram fest on the forum earlier this year, basically a lot of people rubbished him. Then he came out with a string of awesome performances in the triangular series in Australia. Somehow, I reckon he'll do the same in SA.

 

[Perm]

Why are people suggesting papps be picked in odi side? He doesn't score quick enough. Mccullum and vincent is the right option.

Bollocks.

McCullum and Vincent might fire every so often, but if we want consistent runs then Papps is the man. Can't beleive you made that statement, absolutely amazing really.

 

[Athlai]

Bollocks.

McCullum and Vincent might fire every so often, but if we want consistent runs then Papps is the man. Can't beleive you made that statement, absolutely amazing really.

Papps and Vincent would be gun IMO, with McCullum at his rightful place at the head of the tail to punish at the end.

Papps the guy who stays in, Vincent the guy who tries to put some pressure on, won't always come off but hey, its what we got.

 

[Perm]

Papps and Vincent would be gun IMO, with McCullum at his rightful place at the head of the tail to punish at the end.

Papps the guy who stays in, Vincent the guy who tries to put some pressure on, won't always come off but hey, its what we got.

Not really gun, but serviceable.

 

[Somerset]

Mixed start to the tour for New Zealand, the top order was the part of the game we need most work on before the test series yet it again falls over weakly. Papps and Cumming will open in the test matches but its hardly ideal when it appears they can hardly score runs and whatever they manage is at a snail's pace. Fleming appeared to be in relatively good touch which is a good sign. Not convinced on Taylor as a test player so we shall see how he fares if selected for his test debut.

As far as Oram goes, I believe he'll stand out but much of that will be put down to the situations he'll bat in - coming out to bat at 3 or 4/50 after the top order has failed and saving the innings with a well constructed innings.

Will be interesting to see how Bond, Martin and Mason(why hes even playing is beyond me) go with the ball today.

 

[Athlai]

Not really gun, but serviceable.

The wild gun being thrown out is mostly the liquor talking, but you hit the nail on the head. Is there any possible better option currently for the ODI squad?

 

[Athlai]

Mixed start to the tour for New Zealand, the top order was the part of the game we need most work on before the test series yet it again falls over weakly. Papps and Cumming will open in the test matches but its hardly ideal when it appears they can hardly score runs and whatever they manage is at a snail's pace. Fleming appeared to be in relatively good touch which is a good sign. Not convinced on Taylor as a test player so we shall see how he fares if selected for his test debut.

As far as Oram goes, I believe he'll stand out but much of that will be put down to the situations he'll bat in - coming out to bat at 3 or 4/50 after the top order has failed and saving the innings with a well constructed innings.

Will be interesting to see how Bond, Martin and Mason(why hes even playing is beyond me) go with the ball today.

Mason is a pretty consistent bowler TBH he'll throw out a good length all day long. Not enough to challenge in the shorter form of the game but in the longer form? He might be effective, rather Patel anyday though.

 

[Perm]

The wild gun being thrown out is mostly the liquor talking, but you hit the nail on the head. Is there any possible better option currently for the ODI squad?

Not particularly. Shannan Stewart is a possibility, in another year or so. Doesn't score the quickest, but one of the better opening prospects.

Really, NZC is going through a mini-transition period. We've lost Nathan Astle, Chris Cairns, Stephen Fleming, Chris Harris and Craig McMillan over the last couple of seasons. Some of the best ever players we've had, so it's understandable that we may struggle for a little while.

 

[Somerset]

Mason is a pretty consistent bowler TBH he'll throw out a good length all day long. Not enough to challenge in the shorter form of the game but in the longer form? He might be effective, rather Patel anyday though.

Consistent yes but of test standard, not in my opinion anyway. Its a shame Kyle Mills wasn't available as I'd definitely prefer him or even James Franklin (also adds the extra batting depth) to Mason. I believe if the pitches appear to suit, Patel would play as a second spinner in the tests.

 

[Athlai]

Not particularly. Shannan Stewart is a possibility, in another year or so. Doesn't score the quickest, but one of the better opening prospects.

Really, NZC is going through a mini-transition period. We've lost Nathan Astle, Chris Cairns, Stephen Fleming, Chris Harris and Craig McMillan over the last couple of seasons. Some of the best ever players we've had, so it's understandable that we may struggle for a little while.

Shannan Stewart is a new name to me, how old?

 

[Somerset]

Shannan Stewart is a new name to me, how old?

He's 25 though I doubt he'll ever play for the national side IMO.

http://content-nz.cricinfo.com/newzealand/content/player/38418.html

 

[Athlai]

Consistent yes but of test standard, not in my opinion anyway. Its a shame Kyle Mills wasn't available as I'd definitely prefer him or even James Franklin (also adds the extra batting depth) to Mason. I believe if the pitches appear to suit, Patel would play as a second spinner in the tests.

Probably just as test standard as Martin IMO. I would rather Mills and Franklin in a seamer role in the squad over Martin yet I have a unholy bias towards Jeetan Patel and would call for him to open if it got him a spot in the team.

Franklin over Mills in tests though, easily.

Bond
Franklin
Mills
Vettori
Patel

Would be our ideal attack on any wicket IMO, yet NZ lacks the batting depth to provide us this attack so Patel is only ever going to appear on turning pitches, a darn shame for a great young spinner.

 

[Athlai]

He's 25 though I doubt he'll ever play for the national side IMO.

http://content-nz.cricinfo.com/newzealand/content/player/38418.html

Could potentially, with our top order woes I wouldn't be surprised to see a lot of chopping and changing, might not be given a 'honest' chance though. If he fails in a match or two he'll be dropped, but you never know how it might end up.