*Official* South Africa in New Zealand 2022

[Stefan9]

If SA continues with the absurd idea of Jansen being a nr.7 NZ will have a great chance.
SA has momentum from the India series but batting still doesn't convince.

Series will be a shoot out between the bowling attacks.

 

[Bahnz]

1-1, top runscorers Elgar and Conway, top wicket takers Jansen and Southee, biggest underperformers Rabada and Latham.

 

[Apex Predator]

If SA win this series.. NZ will be out of WTC race almost while proteas will be in with a great shout at the final.

 

[kaetor]

Forecast for the weekend isn't looking great - normally we don't get rain for 2 months after Christmas, but this year it's rained more than I ever remember. If it stays away for the test, it'll still mean an unusual Hagley deck I think.

 

[Heboric]

Jeepers only Firdose Moonda can gleefully spend a whole paragraph on how South Africa almost lost a game

Four rare occasions when New Zealand won a Test against South Africa

New Zealand have never won a Test series against South Africa. Can they change that this time?

www.espncricinfo.com

Okay maybe add Ian Chappell

 

[nzfan]

Latham and Nicholls to get most runs for NZ. Southee and Kyle to pick up most wickets.

 

[Jezroy]

So it looks like the NZ team will be:

Latham
Young
Conway
Nicholls
Mitchell
Blundell
CDG or Ravindra
Jamieson
Southee
Henry
Wagner

Do they need Mitchell, CDG, AND 4 other seamers?

Is Blundell one place too high? Probably not if we are 500/4, but probably is if we are 50/4…

Rutherford, Fletcher, Tickner really there as cover for injury. Then they are just choosing between CDG and Rachin.

Be interesting to see if Boult and Patel come into the reckoning for the second test…

Also feels weird not seeing Taylor AND Williamson, but really… Ross has been declining in tests for a while, so just have to wrap my head around that. So really the hole is “just” Kane missing.

Feels like this would be so much better…

Young
Latham
Kane
Conway
Nicholls
Blundell (would bat 7 if Mitchell plays)
Mitchell or CDG or Rachin
Bowlers

 

[nzfan]

I hope the black caps are lucid in picking their batting order. If CDG or Rachin is playing like said above they should be sent in at no.6. I'd even say if playing Rachin send him at no.5 but I don't think that's going to happen. If we're in very good position and need quick scoring Blundell could no in at no.6 if Rachin is playing otherwise CDG will do the job. The only real question is who plays as the all rounder, CDG or Rachin. Either will work. Then the 4 fast bowlers. I don't think we will see Tickener, Ruds or Cam this test match.

Latham, Nicholls and Henry are key. Two test matches at their home ground. They will have the familiarity and should feel lot more comfortable.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

So it looks like the NZ team will be:

Latham
Young
Conway
Nicholls
Mitchell
Blundell
CDG or Ravindra
Jamieson
Southee
Henry
Wagner

Do they need Mitchell, CDG, AND 4 other seamers?

Is Blundell one place too high? Probably not if we are 500/4, but probably is if we are 50/4…

Rutherford, Fletcher, Tickner really there as cover for injury. Then they are just choosing between CDG and Rachin.

Be interesting to see if Boult and Patel come into the reckoning for the second test…

Also feels weird not seeing Taylor AND Williamson, but really… Ross has been declining in tests for a while, so just have to wrap my head around that. So really the hole is “just” Kane missing.

Feels like this would be so much better…

Young
Latham
Kane
Conway
Nicholls
Blundell (would bat 7 if Mitchell plays)
Mitchell or CDG or Rachin
Bowlers

Obviously having Williamson would be so much better. It looks like a quality batting lineup with him there, but Mitchell seems to know what he's doing with the bat.

 

[Bahnz]

Tbh, if it's a typical Hagley pitch then I'd rather have CdG than Rachin.

 

[_Ed_]

Tbh, if it's a typical Hagley pitch then I'd rather have CdG than Rachin.

Yeah, goes all right there, doesn't he?

All-round records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com

stats.espncricinfo.com

 

[nzfan]

Yeah, goes all right there, doesn't he?

All-round records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com

stats.espncricinfo.com

That is a very good record, I'd start with him in this test match. If he goes all right then keep him otherwise he can be swapped.

 

[trundler]

I'd open with Rachin and have Young in the middle.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

I'd open with Rachin and have Young in the middle.

Very tempting, but today Stead confirmed the top 5 will be Latham, Young, Conway, Nicholls, Mitchell.

 

[Binkley]

Mitchell has done well in his test career so far, but he is not a number 5. And with Nicholls struggling that top order gives me the shivers.

 

[nzfan]

Mitchell has done well in his test career so far, but he is not a number 5. And with Nicholls struggling that top order gives me the shivers.

The top 3 need to fire for us. If we get to say 150/2 or something like that we'll be all right. Early couple of wickets then it's going to require one of the middle order batter to have one of their best game. I'm also a little bit doubtful about our middle order but that said Nicholls playing at Hagley could spur him to do something really good. He has a knack of scoring tough runs.

 

[SteveNZ]

Given the amount of rain that's reportedly been falling in Hagley, the fact CdG has a great record at Hagley, it's not likely to turn etc I'd feel like it was a no-brainer that CdG plays and bats at 6 ahead of Blundell.

 

[Bahnz]

I know SA have had zero prep, but $3.80 looks like juicy odds given KW and Boult’s absence and KJ looking out of sorts this summer.

 

[Wright]

Why hasn't Nicholls played any meaningful cricket since the test match against Bangladesh?

 

[nzfan]

Why hasn't Nicholls played any meaningful cricket since the test match against Bangladesh?

Don't think there's been any meaningful matches since for Canterbury. He played the super smash :-)