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

[Flem274*]

Without bias, if Flynn can dominate Shield cricket (could go either way since he's has plenty of ups and downs domestically season by season), he should easily be at least first reserve when ****s aren't injured.

 

[Flametree]

Anyone know why Taylor didn't bat in CD's innings?

 

[Hurricane]

check out the domestic thread flametree.

 

[Mike5181]

Is it not too late to recall Daniel Flynn?

I mean he can at least get to forty and he's coming off a hundred in the Shield so he might even break into the mighty fifties.

He could be called up for the second test if he does well in his second innings of this game and his next Plunket Shield game against Wellington. I'd say it would need to be a significant score though. With his injury it would be harsh to rush him into a test match against Steyn, Morkel etc after he's only just found his feet again at first class level even if he could do a better job than Rob Nicol. When's Brownlie back anyway?

Broom with a 72* is good to see as well.

 

[SteveNZ]

Haha if he can stay in this will be fun.

We might have to lock Steve in a cupboard afterwards though.

Had to lock myself in a cupboard so I didn't smash things...awful run out. Played reasonably well before that though, didn't he? Struggled against Steyn but he's hardly a lone ranger in that respect.

 

[Mike5181]

Van Wyk has been called up for cover. Watling has some hip problem.

 

[Flem274*]

van Wyk should play even if Watling plays tbh.

 

[Zinzan]

Thank goodness rugby & league seasons have started in NZ. What's cricket again?

 

[Heboric]

South Africa love to bully weak sides so it's not like they were going to turn up, play rubbish and make a game of it.

That reminds me of England in many sporting codes. Bully a weakened or disinterested team and all of a sudden they have the best player in every position from 1 to 11

 

[SeamUp]

That reminds me of England in many sporting codes. Bully a weakened or disinterested team and all of a sudden they have the best player in ever positions from 1 to 11

Touché

 

[SeamUp]

van Wyk should play even if Watling plays tbh.

Kruger may want to prove a point, it was a young AB de Villiers who kicked him out of our Titans domestic side when AB was 19! AB had to open and keep wicket to get into the side for 4-day cricket. Talk about tough!

Funnily enough Kruger went to the school Affies and its the same school AB, Faf, Heino Kuhn (all same year) and Jacques Rudolph went to.

Kruger is 32 this year and Rudolph is 31 so they must of played at school together and obviously for the Titans.

 

[kiwiviktor81]

Looks like we're going for four seamers and Vettori. Puts a lot of pressure on our batting.

I have a feeling that Philander's already freakishly low average might go down a touch in this series.

 

[SeamUp]

Good preview here: Pitch report - University Oval, Dunedin | South Africa in New Zealand

 

[BackFootPunch]

Went to the South African training today to do some net bowling. Must say those quicks are pretty bloody intimidating up close. All seemed to be great blokes though - Dale Steyn in particular. Must be great for their batsmen to face such a challenge in training, surely makes a lot of other international bowlers seem fairly pedestrian.

 

[SeamUp]

Nice ploy by the Kiwis to play down south first up. The most southern Test ground in the world? Damn cold!

Slipper fingers beware!

 

[SeamUp]

Went to the South African training today to do some net bowling. Must say those quicks are pretty bloody intimidating up close. All seemed to be great blokes though - Dale Steyn in particular. Must be great for their batsmen to face such a challenge in training, surely makes a lot of other international bowlers seem fairly pedestrian.

Good to hear Must have been good fun.

Haven't seen Marchant close up but he does to look to have broad shoulders!

 

[Quaggas]

Went to the South African training today to do some net bowling. Must say those quicks are pretty bloody intimidating up close. All seemed to be great blokes though - Dale Steyn in particular. Must be great for their batsmen to face such a challenge in training, surely makes a lot of other international bowlers seem fairly pedestrian.

Propose to James that your "Cricket Spectator" title be upgraded immediately.

 

[kiwiviktor81]

Went to the South African training today to do some net bowling. Must say those quicks are pretty bloody intimidating up close. All seemed to be great blokes though - Dale Steyn in particular. Must be great for their batsmen to face such a challenge in training, surely makes a lot of other international bowlers seem fairly pedestrian.

I have to say I've often wondered what Dale Steyn was like in real life. He seems so angry on the field that I thought some of this must surely carry over into his non-playing persona. But I've never met him so it's nice to hear he's actually a good guy.

 

[Briony]

I have to say I've often wondered what Dale Steyn was like in real life. He seems so angry on the field that I thought some of this must surely carry over into his non-playing persona. But I've never met him so it's nice to hear he's actually a good guy.

When they toured here last Neil Manthorp was commentating on the radio and he described him as probably the most down to earth member of the team who came from a less privileged background than most of his teammates.

 

[kiwiviktor81]

When they toured here last Neil Manthorp was commentating on the radio and he described him as probably the most down to earth member of the team who came from a less privileged background than most of his teammates.

That's doubly interesting since he's probably the best player in the team, if not the world, at the moment.