*Official* South Africa in New Zealand

[Craig]

459 plays 509 on first innings hardly suggests a tricky one.

Except a crater out side the batsmen's leg stump or the left handers off stump.

It's not a belter, but one you can bat on.

 

[Kent]

If Warne or Murali were playing at Hamilton, there's no way that match would've been a draw IMO.

Fleming has played it safe in the press conference by blaming the bulk of the pitch for being too placid, which is a little ironic after he had a go at the Indian batting last season for being too picky about conditions. Why accept Vettori's long list of dislikes, and not theirs?

I always thought this series would feature spin bowling, but I really hope it doesn't become a lacklustre showcase of clearly both sides' weakest suit.

 

[Kent]

I'm wondering if Butler's extra 5k's of pace and recent contact with Bracewell both at Gloucester and in the Pakistan series will give him an edge.

Damn, I was right!

I hope Braces knows what he's doing dropping Mason for Butler. We all know what SA have done lately to short-of-a-length bowlers who rate their pace and wear gold chains...

 

[Mingster]

Well he took 4 wickets in the first innings, so that was an OK effort.

And in the second innings he continued to be obsessed with that crater, and bowled over the wicket to all the right handers, a plan that did not work. Should have persisted with bowling around, because that crater has not created a wicket in this match.

It was interesting during the last day, when Clive Lloyd was called out to see if the crater was too dangerous for play.

Man, I'm not sure about Butler aye. He doesn't have the sheer pace to worry any batsman, and he's only around Andre Nel pace, and look how he's done in the ODI and Test series. Would rather have Chris Martin who bowls 138+ consistently as well.

 

[cbuts]

i think butler showed against pakistan, and aggainst india where
he bowled well without much success, that he has got what it takes. id rather see mason there than martin though. butlers is a good 6-10 kph faster than nel

never new that p a k i s was a swear word?!?

 

[Kent]

I'd argue Vettori got 3 of his 4 wickets very softly. You're right about the obsession with the crater though I think Mingster. It was apparently captain's orders to target it, but to me that was hardly a vote of confidence. Flem was effectively saying "you're no world-beaters. Bowl for a fluke instead".

Although the turn was slow, even Wiseman managed two wickets from catches in-close, which suggests there was a conventional way for spinners to succeed.

The disturbing thing is that neither Fleming nor Vettori seem to believe he can be a success on any slow wickets, whether in the subcontinent or here at home. I don't enjoy hearing Vettori say everything needs to be just right for him to be a genuine threat, and it makes me wonder about his future as an automatic choice for NZ.

 

[Kent]

TDCC - yeah, that word is more offensive than a lot of Kiwis think it seems. We think it's the same sort of shortening slang as 'Aussies', while elsewhere it seems on a par with 'n**ger'.

I'm only assuming this from being a fan of the TV show The Office, so I may be wrong!

 

[marc71178]

Smtihs done a good jopb of making sure this test is a draw.

One could argue that Fleming played his part by batting on so long. A declaration after Oram reached his ton might have made a difference, especially seeing as they did get 2 quick wickets in the 2nd Innings.

That said, by the close on the 4th Day, there was only really one result likely, so I don't blame Smith for batting on and allowing his men the chance to get used to the conditions.

 

[marc71178]

TDCC - yeah, that word is more offensive than a lot of Kiwis think it seems. We think it's the same sort of shortening slang as 'Aussies', while elsewhere it seems on a par with 'n**ger'.

I'm only assuming this from being a fan of the TV show The Office, so I may be wrong!

Correct, it can be very offensive, and although there is a place for it in something like The Office, where it was intended to be used to show bad taste, it is not appropriate here.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Jacques Kallis
Last 5 Tests
8 inns
954 runs
190.8 Avge
5 hundreds
2 fifties

:wow:

 

[Craig]

One of the best batsmen going around in the last several years and one of the best all-rounders off all time.

What are the chances of Boje playing instead of Adams?

 

[Langeveldt]

One of the best batsmen going around in the last several years and one of the best all-rounders off all time.

What are the chances of Boje playing instead of Adams?

IMO Boje should be right in there... he is after all the only decent spinner SA have in their possession...

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

I actually rate his bowling equal to Paul Adams in terms of penetration, but his economy/accuracy is sharper and his batting so much better that he has to be an automatic pick if fit.

IMO he's an underachiever with the bat though.

 

[Mingster]

i think butler showed against pakistan, and aggainst india where
he bowled well without much success, that he has got what it takes. id rather see mason there than martin though. butlers is a good 6-10 kph faster than nel

never new that p a k i s was a swear word?!?

Nel reached speeds upto 148km/h in the Test, so you're telling me Butler can bowl in the 150's? :rolleyes:

Butler can't. Butler's not that fast. And he doesn't have the accuracy to threaten decent batsmen. That 6 wicket bag was against tailenders.

Butler against Pakistan bowled a max of 146 or around there, but not in the 150s.

 

[Craig]

One could argue that Fleming played his part by batting on so long. A declaration after Oram reached his ton might have made a difference, especially seeing as they did get 2 quick wickets in the 2nd Innings.

That said, by the close on the 4th Day, there was only really one result likely, so I don't blame Smith for batting on and allowing his men the chance to get used to the conditions.

Your right there. Although Smith could fo declared when Kirsten got his ton. The wicket wasnt going to allow really quick scoring without belting sixes all over the place.

Does anybody know what the Auckland pitch will be like? So is there any chance Wiseman will play? Gary Kirsten will become the first South African to play 100 Tests, he certaintly deserves to play that amount.

 

[Tim]

They reckon this Eden Park pitch is going to be the best one in some time.
Apparently it's going to have a decent covering a grass so therefore I can't see Wiseman being picked.

I think they'll possibly play Chris Martin ahead of Butler...Martin bowls well to left handers & there are a few of them in this S.A team.

 

[Craig]

I would play Martin anyway ahead of Butler on any pitch.

Is this pitch going to assist spin or pace or be a belter?

 

[Tim]

Well I don't know too much about the pitch, but from what I've heard it'll be far more enjoyable for the pace bowlers, but the batsmen will also enjoy it if they are willing to be patient with the new ball.

 

[cbuts]

Nel reached speeds upto 148km/h in the Test, so you're telling me Butler can bowl in the 150's? :rolleyes:

Butler can't. Butler's not that fast. And he doesn't have the accuracy to threaten decent batsmen. That 6 wicket bag was against tailenders.

Butler against Pakistan bowled a max of 146 or around there, but not in the 150s.

i havent seen nel bowl over 138 in new zealand. i think butlers top speed was 151 in the basin test.

 

[tooextracool]

i havent seen nel bowl over 138 in new zealand. i think butlers top speed was 151 in the basin test.

um u havent been watching too much of the cricket in nz because nel has been bowling balls upto 148kmh. he doesnt bowl at that speed consistently though and his overs consist of a range of balls between 133 and 148kmh