***Official*** South Africa in New Zealand 2012

[Briony]

Will be interesting to see how SA goes without Kallis - a hint of the future.

 

[Briony]

Drizzling again.

kiwi commentators seem mega excited about NZ's prospects.

 

[Flem274*]

No Kallis, and Rudolph's technique shouldn't work on a green pitch.

But there's still Smith, Amla and AB, so we're still up against it.

 

[straw man]

I haven't seen the pitch yet but surely the usual thing to do if you name a batting heavy side is bat first and try to rack up a big score and apply scoreboard pressure that way. Am surprised we are bowling first and hope there is a lot of assistance for bowlers.

Delays are annoying. Anyone know why the Basin's drainage is bad? I had it in my head that was quite good.

 

[TT Boy]

Shocker.

 

[Howsie]

Hmmmm, I don't think he touched that tbh, Hotspot didn't pick anything up anyway.

 

[TT Boy]

Seriously how can you give that out?

 

[TT Boy]

Confirmed to be a complete and utter howler.

 

[Shifter]

Rubbish use of DRS by the umpires. Sound didn't sound like wood live, no edge on hotspot. I'd really like for them to be clear on the criteria that's needed for an umpire to over turn a decision. If they don't trust hotspot or slow mo replays that all but confirm there was no nick then why bother using it?

 

[Howsie]

Your've got to ask though, if Smith didn't think he hit it why did it take so long for him to refer it?

 

[Furball]

I thought there was a tiny mark on HotSpot but I'm not convinced that should have been upheld.

 

[NUFAN]

I haven't seen the pitch yet but surely the usual thing to do if you name a batting heavy side is bat first and try to rack up a big score and apply scoreboard pressure that way. Am surprised we are bowling first and hope there is a lot of assistance for bowlers.

Or you could think these conditions are the best for bowling, so you can get SA out quickly and make the runs in the fourth innings with the best possible batting lineup..

Who really cares if the three seamers are tired after after the match, not like it's a back to back Test.

I'm really happy with the XI.

 

[TT Boy]

Even if Smith refereed straight away he would still have been given out that despite all the evidence (clear daylight) showing he didn't hit the ball.

 

[Zinzan]

Evening Gents. Reasonably close call that, but not-out none-the-less.

Meanwhile....Simon Doull reaches new highs in the annoying stakes.

 

[Van Buren]

If Smith had been given not out, and if the fielding team had reviewed it, would the same decision have occurre[

 

[Zinzan]

If Smith had been given not out, and if the fielding team had reviewed it, would the same decision have occurre[

No. The system is designed to go with the umpire unless there's clear evidence to the contrary.

 

[Zinzan]

The bowlers have been really disappointing for mine in spite of the early wicket

 

[Flem274*]

Haven't seen the pitch, but if it is green then 43/1 from 10 is poor.

 

[TT Boy]

Buffet bowling, so short. Is no greentop but there is a bit of wobble.

 

[Zinzan]

Haven't seen the pitch, but if it is green then 43/1 from 10 is poor.

It's not green at all, looks more of a sandy colour from the TV pictures, although on close inspection there was a small amount of grass.

Meanwhile, NZ's bowling has been all over the shop. So much the opposite to Philander.