***Official*** South Africa in New Zealand 2017

[StephenZA]

What have NZ management and players said about Maharaj?

Maharaj, to his credit, bowled nicely with control and put the ball in the right areas but I don't think it was overly threatening. To allow a spinner like him to take 6 for 40 is unacceptable," Larsen said.

Full quote directly from Larsen (selector)... you don`t use words "a spinner like him" and mean it in a positive context. He is trying to sugar coat it but is effectively saying it is not good to lose wickets to Maharaj. Would it have been alright against a better spinner? Talk about the lack of spin, say you should not have lost wickets to a part-timer (i.e. Duminy). Don`t say you should not have lost wickets to "that man".... may have been a poor choice of words but still, the intent is there.

 

[Neil Young]

Full quote directly from Larsen (selector)... you don`t use words "a spinner like him" and mean it in a positive context. He is trying to sugar coat it but is effectively saying it is not good to lose wickets to Maharaj. Would it have been alright against a better spinner? Talk about the lack of spin, say you should not have lost wickets to a part-timer (i.e. Duminy). Don`t say you should not have lost wickets to "that man".... may have been a poor choice of words but still, the intent is there.

OK, thanks. But I agree with Larsen there, though maybe he shouldn't have name-checked him.. From what I have seen, Maharaj isn't a 6-40 spinner (on that pitch) and we should have played him far better. Just like we shouldn't have given Duminy a 4-fer.

You will have seen more of Maharaj, mind, and will be better placed to judge. Maybe he's a gun.

 

[StephenZA]

OK, thanks. But I agree with Larsen there, though maybe he shouldn't have name-checked him.. From what I have seen, Maharaj isn't a 6-40 spinner (on that pitch) and we should have played him far better. Just like we shouldn't have given Duminy a 4-fer.

You will have seen more of Maharaj, mind, and will be better placed to judge. Maybe he's a gun.

He is better than has been portrayed in the media in general... people tend to focus on our seamers, understandably; but he is an intelligent bowler that tends to bowl for the teams needs. Part of the reason that he took so many wickets is Philander/Morkel/Rabada put NZ under pressure and they felt that they had to go after Maharaj but he was getting really good flight and dip, he beat a number of batsmen in the air not off the pitch.

 

[Neil Young]

He is better than has been portrayed in the media in general... people tend to focus on our seamers, understandably; but he is an intelligent bowler that tends to bowl for the teams needs. Part of the reason that he took so many wickets is Philander/Morkel/Rabada put NZ under pressure and they felt that they had to go after Maharaj but he was getting really good flight and dip, he beat a number of batsmen in the air not off the pitch.

Cool. Look forward to seeing more of him.

 

[Marius]

OK, thanks. But I agree with Larsen there, though maybe he shouldn't have name-checked him.. From what I have seen, Maharaj isn't a 6-40 spinner (on that pitch) and we should have played him far better. Just like we shouldn't have given Duminy a 4-fer.

You will have seen more of Maharaj, mind, and will be better placed to judge. Maybe he's a gun.

I get your point, but Maharaj is a 6/40 spinner - those were his figures.

And he's taken two Test fifers in a row in NZ, the last time a spinner did that was over 30 years ago (I think). Two fifers in a row isn't a fluke.

I really like the look of the SA attack at the moment. Probably only issue is, like Stephen said, is that Philander looks to be pretty down on pace.

Our backups are also looking good, especially when Steyn comes back. And our other seamers are Morris, Olivier, Parnell etc. and in terms of spinners our reserves are looking very healthy - Piedt, Shamsi, Tahir, Harmer, Linde etc.

 

[Neil Young]

I get your point, but Maharaj is a 6/40 spinner - those were his figures.

Well, you obviously don't get my point if this is your response!

As I say, I look forward to seeing more of him as you guys seem to rate him quite highly. Bring on Hamilton...

 

[91Jmay]

I am also getting tired of the way Maharaj has been written off by NZ management/players. He has bowled well, accurate good flight. He got into the SA team for a reason. He is not Murali.... but I still think he is better than anything NZ have offered up in the spin department, in what was meant to be their superior area.

It probably is slightly off for an opposing coach to say it but let's be honest Maharaj shouldn't be taking 6fer 40 against anyone other than England.

 

[StephenZA]

It probably is slightly off for an opposing coach to say it but let's be honest Maharaj shouldn't be taking 6fer 40 against anyone other than England.

Agreed, heck Duminy could take 5 for against Eng....

Seriously, I know Maharaj does not look flash but has played in 6 matches, taken 2x5 for`s in NZ has an avg of 23,12.... Starting in his first match against Aus in Perth, where SA were a bowler down... he has played his 6 matches in Aus, SA and now NZ, not in extreme spin conditions; and quite often he does not get to bowl many overs if SA pace attack does a good job. I understand why people seem to be righting him off but you would think that they would look at the results and say maybe there is something more to him than we realize....

 

[Neil Young]

Works better for you, Stephen, if oppo players are under-rating him. Allows him to take 6 in a match on a placid pitch...

 

[SeamUp]

Agreed, heck Duminy could take 5 for against Eng....

Seriously, I know Maharaj does not look flash but has played in 6 matches, taken 2x5 for`s in NZ has an avg of 23,12.... Starting in his first match against Aus in Perth, where SA were a bowler down... he has played his 6 matches in Aus, SA and now NZ, not in extreme spin conditions; and quite often he does not get to bowl many overs if SA pace attack does a good job. I understand why people seem to be righting him off but you would think that they would look at the results and say maybe there is something more to him than we realize....

He even took a bunch of wickets on a Perth wicket that traditionally offers zero for finger spinners.

He has honed his skills on SA pitches which has helped although Dubran/Pmb have become quite spin preferred/flat and are not the same wickets Procter, van der Bijl, Marshall, Rawson, S.Pollock, Klusener used to rip teams apart on the 'lawn' they used to call it.

 

[Heboric]

Hmm, Neil Manthorp is saying that Duanne Olivier is coming home.

https://twitter.com/NeilManthorp/status/843782432889290752

 

[SteveNZ]

I am also getting tired of the way Maharaj has been written off by NZ management/players. He has bowled well, accurate good flight. He got into the SA team for a reason. He is not Murali.... but I still think he is better than anything NZ have offered up in the spin department, in what was meant to be their superior area.

Firstly, what an absolute tool Gavin Larsen is for wording that the way he did. You're right, he is better than anything we have. It wasn't 'a bowler like him' that was the issue, it was the pitch. Losing 6 to a finger spinner on a pitch hardly taking turn is the embarrassing part. Playing shots like Neesham's or Southee (surprise surprise) is the embarrassing part. Maharaj is a good bowler, bowls with good flight, a bit of drift and enough turn in the right areas. We made him look even better by going about it completely the wrong way, which should have been preempted by the way we butchered Duminy in the first innings trying to go too hard. We had sessions and sessions to bat and set something up, but only BJ seemingly played Maharaj the way it should've gone.

 

[StephenZA]

Hmm, Neil Manthorp is saying that Duanne Olivier is coming home.

https://twitter.com/NeilManthorp/status/843782432889290752

Makes sense... no point if he is just warming the bench now that Morkel is shown fit. Tough on the poor guy though.

 

[hendrix]

He's not a 6/40 player; I can say that here on an internet forum but that's a horrible thing for an opposition coach to say. Especially Gavin Larsen of all people.

 

[NZTailender]

He's not a 6/40 player; I can say that here on an internet forum but that's a horrible thing for an opposition coach to say. Especially Gavin Larsen of all people.

Probably bitter since his best figures were 5/88.

 

[Nate]

Bring back SatNav!

I'm not sure exactly how good he is, but gosh I quite like watching Raval bat.

 

[Black_Warrior]

Maharaj got Smith lbw which resulted in a lot of Waahs all around. That itself makes him special

 

[wellAlbidarned]

the reason maharaj got 6/40 is because of dumb comments like that. Pretty much straight up shows that we put zero preparation focus into playing him.

 

[91Jmay]

Agreed, heck Duminy could take 5 for against Eng....

Seriously, I know Maharaj does not look flash but has played in 6 matches, taken 2x5 for`s in NZ has an avg of 23,12.... Starting in his first match against Aus in Perth, where SA were a bowler down... he has played his 6 matches in Aus, SA and now NZ, not in extreme spin conditions; and quite often he does not get to bowl many overs if SA pace attack does a good job. I understand why people seem to be righting him off but you would think that they would look at the results and say maybe there is something more to him than we realize....

I feel like you are judging him by numbers rather than what he is actually bowling to be honest. Like when people used to pretend Moeen could bowl because he ran through India early on.

 

[Blain]

Apparently (on a radio news bulletin I heard) they've gone for the slow side of the block in Hamilton. The groundsmen said he was dissapointed as the faster track would have suited Southee and Boult (it's their home track also).

Has NZC lost the plot? We seem to afraid to play to our strengths, because of Philander, Morkel and Rabada. Stupid. Santner will come in for CDG presumably. It's not like we have 2 epic world class spinners to ripe the Saffers to shreds.. 2 OK holding spinners, but I can't see either taking 5/6 wicket bags.

Our selection policy is bad enough..