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

[_Ed_]

the angle and timing of the photo makes it look like he's being abducted by aliens

And kind of enjoying it.

 

[_Ed_]

We've signed Latham and thus far, this series, his OD scores have read: duck, 2, duck!

Just don't make him keep wickets.

 

[straw man]

It's certainly making Bruce Edgar look the brains in the former partnership/ panel.

Now with Edgar coaching Wellington, and then winning titles, he's looking a good bet for next blackcaps coach.

An Edgar / Bond coaching ticket would be a dream come true for me. But would still need to prise Larsen out of the selection gig.

Looking back, Edgar left May 2015 and Larsen came in from June, so I'd agree there's been a contrast between the two and I'm much more of a fan of the former's selections. Larsen has been about inordinate faith in certain players (Guptill in tests, Ronchi) while switching all over the place between newer guys.

Wellington have certainly turned things around since Edgar arrived too.

 

[Prince EWS]

Surprised Jeets has been added unless Santner and/or Sodhi are carrying niggles. The selectors aren't even managing to fit Sodhi in for every game even though he's been bowling well, so to suddenly go to three spinners would be very weird.

I guess the thing with Jeets is that he's an accomplished death bowler as well, so he could be used in periods where the other spinners typically couldn't and possibly open up a way to get three in.. but still.

 

[Flem274*]

i think funky selections are the least of NZs worries because they've actually been working - ronchi in india, CdG on a green deck etc

it's the boring foundations that have screwed NZ. Southee is being ****, Ronchi is being **** at the end, the allrounders are always injured and they haven't found a suitable replacement for McCullum

 

[Mike5181]

Patel's been picked with the Champions Trophy in mind. The first game of the tournament for us is Australia at Edgbaston, and he's obviously done really well there having taken 50 @ 16. I don't agree with three spinners or him leapfrogging Sodhi before that though. Spin is one of the areas we're actually going all right at the moment, and Sodhi has done nothing to be displaced as the second spinner.

 

[Bahnz]

It's another beauty today in the capital. Going to the game this afternoon, here's hoping for another cracker.

Noooooope.

 

[jcas0167]

Looking back, Edgar left May 2015 and Larsen came in from June, so I'd agree there's been a contrast between the two and I'm much more of a fan of the former's selections. Larsen has been about inordinate faith in certain players (Guptill in tests, Ronchi) while switching all over the place between newer guys.

Wellington have certainly turned things around since Edgar arrived too.

In fairness, Wellington won the domestic one day competition in 2013/2014 and the Super Smash in 2014/2015 under Jamie Siddons. They had a pretty average 2015/16 in Edgar's first season in charge. They've exceptionally well in all formats this season with Hamish Marshall coming in as captain & Hamish Bennett moving north from Canterbury. The team does seem to be very settled and well organised. It will be interesting to see how they go once some of the senior players move on, it would be great if Edgar can develop some young top-order batsmen like Kippax favourite, Weerasundara, or Ravindra.

 

[Zinzan]

The quality of our batsmen (or lack of it) was badly exposed yesterday, It's not really a surprise. Unless Guptill/Taylor or KW score 80% of our runs against a quality side like SA, we're always going to fall short.

Thankfully Guptill should return next game, but even then it's 5-6 world class batsmen vs. 3.

 

[Kippax]

Bringing Patel into the squad here is another such WTF - we have two limited overs spinners finally performing well in Santner and Sodhi, so what on earth is the point of bringing in Patel?

Luke Ronchi back in wicketkeeping hot seat as Tom Latham, Neil Broom face axe for Black Caps must-win in Hamilton | Stuff.co.nz

Patel returns after a tidy spell opening the bowling in the December 31 ODI against Bangladesh, with South Africa's array of left-handers a "big consideration".

 

[vcs]

NZ just match up poorly against SA. It's like SA do everything NZ do, but much, much better.

 

[Zinzan]

NZ just match up poorly against SA. It's like SA do everything NZ do, but much, much better.

I think that's fair actually, & has always been the case hence why SA have always been NZ's bogey side. With the notable exception of meaningful tournaments of course, SA lose their stomachs then

 

[akilana]

but somehow they have the stomach for fight in the most meaningful format

 

[straw man]

Luke Ronchi back in wicketkeeping hot seat as Tom Latham, Neil Broom face axe for Black Caps must-win in Hamilton | Stuff.co.nz

Infuriating. I mean, thinking about leaving out Latham is one thing, but not for Ronchi please. A little tough on Broom as well - has batted poorly last three innings and I suppose misses out against Neesham and CDG, though I'd prefer he had until end of series.

Ronchi at 5 is a better bet than Ronchi at 7, though I'd still much prefer they brought in a new wicketkeeper. It's time.

 

[StephenZA]

I`m not upto date on the NZ test setup? How many of the ODI squad are in the test team? Just asking because the players appeared to struggle quite a bit against a ball that was moving just a touch and if they struggle against that what is Philander going to do to the top order?

Will NZ create drier wickets for the test series?

 

[S.Kennedy]

Just don't make him keep wickets.

Our current keeper (Michael Richardson) had a poor season last year so I have a sneaky feeling they will try him. Latham is only there for the second half of the season, replacing Stephen Cook when he gets pulled away for the England test series. He has been here before, playing in the academy, the seconds and some club cricket.

 

[SteveNZ]

Patel's been picked with the Champions Trophy in mind. The first game of the tournament for us is Australia at Edgbaston, and he's obviously done really well there having taken 50 @ 16. I don't agree with three spinners or him leapfrogging Sodhi before that though. Spin is one of the areas we're actually going all right at the moment, and Sodhi has done nothing to be displaced as the second spinner.

You could well be right, but if Jeetan plays over Ish on Wednesday I just don't like the message it sends to Ish. Goes away and bowls like a dream in T20 cricket, comes back into ODI cricket pretty well I thought, then is dropped again on his home wicket. Cricketers are human beings, and Ish is a young enthusiastic guy trying bloody hard to make it. You can't just cut him off at the knees on the premise that Jeets likes left-handers and we're playing at his home ground in 4 months time.

And it's not like Ish doesn't turn it away from left handers anyway. Ask Dave Miller.

 

[veganbob]

but somehow they have the stomach for fight in the most meaningful format

The gap between sa and nz in tests is as big as the gap between NZ and Bangladesh. Its not just about fight.

I still think we can win this one day series. Drop brownlie too please, he just doesn't cut it at this level.

 

[veganbob]

I`m not upto date on the NZ test setup? How many of the ODI squad are in the test team? Just asking because the players appeared to struggle quite a bit against a ball that was moving just a touch and if they struggle against that what is Philander going to do to the top order?

Will NZ create drier wickets for the test series?

In tests we rely on Kane even more, and also taylor. The rest of our test batsmen struggle vs anything that swings or spins. Latham is capable and a decent test opener but he will struggle vs sa, so will Raval imo. Watling has a good test record .

That's about it. Our only slight hope in the test series is to prepare turning tracks and hope.

 

[Neil Young]

The gap between sa and nz in tests is as big as the gap between NZ and Bangladesh. Its not just about fight.

I still think we can win this one day series. Drop brownlie too please, he just doesn't cut it at this level.

Yet Broom does? You've got agendas all over the place, veganbob.