*Official* South Africa in New Zealand

[aussiefan]

He must be wondering why now...

 

[Kent]

Marc is a master of the caustic one-line post, but in this case I'll disagree. Fleming had no choice if he wanted to win.

Without Bond, NZ doesn't have the attack to dismiss a quality line-up twice on a 3rd, 4th or 5th day. In this case, even a 1st day pitch seems a massive struggle.

 

[Mister Wright]

Chris Cairns gets Gibbs with a beauty!

Only 1 more wicket needed for 200...

 

[Mister Wright]

WOW! Chris Martin picks up Smith first ball after Tea for 88. South Africa now 2/177.

New Zealand on a hatrick.

 

[Craig]

Smith LBW first ball after tea b Chris Martin.

New Zealand are on a team hat-trick...

 

[Craig]

WOW! Chris Martin picks up Smith first ball after Tea for 88. South Africa now 2/177.

New Zealand on a hatrick.

No hat-trick.

Posted at the same time.

Another 4 to Kallis.

 

[Kent]

Hearing the Auckland crowd sarcastically cheering every time Tuffey makes the batsman play is pretty harsh. Who is Auckland contributing to our bowling ranks again?

Perhaps this is the message that Tuffey has to stand down to get his knee right. From what I've heard he won't go to England if has an op in April.

 

[Craig]

Greath the injury curse again.

Looks like Ian Butler might get to go :rolleyes:

 

[Tim]

Well throughout this series it seems that losing the toss is the best option.

There was a bit of movement available this morning but the NZ bowlers looked down on confidence & I was not surprised to see Fleming read the riot-act at them mid-way through the 1st session.

Mind you, 231/2 isn't exactly a run away score so if NZ could take some quick wickets tommorow, their fortune might change..otherwise I can't see anything stopping S.A getting to at least 500, it's yet another batting paradise.

 

[Mingster]

Tuffey hasn't been exactly great in ODIs in the past year (average of 30 and a RPO of over 4.9) and he just looked out of it today. His pace went into the low 120s today.

Our attack definitely lacks the penetration without Shane Bond...

 

[Tim]

It's obvious that this knee injury has been affecting Tuffey for some time...the selectors have just tried to keep it quiet for as long as possible. But for the sake of his career, I think they need to do the right thing & get him back to 100% fitness.

The pitches haven't exactly been ideal for the quicks in this test series so far mind you...I mean South Africa's pace attack is meant to be one of the world's best but they too struggled in Hamilton.

 

[anzac]

Welcome back Anzac. I see Mingster bought into my croc idea!

A bowler too many?! Are we doing a Wellington and playing for draws now?

Bumping Vettori down to 10 would be mad unless you're taking 20 wickets regularly. NZ hasn't won a test for 15 months.

it was the Katherine township that had crocs swimming down the main streat during their floods in '98..................and big ones too..........

I don't advocate playing for a draw unles your back is against the wall in the latter stages of the match.................

I guess I'm still a traditionalist & prefer to see 6 specialist batsmen (some of whom can roll their arm over), and 4 specialist bowlers.................the only exception to this for me would be the inclusion of genuine all rounders who can be relied upon to provide with both bat and ball...............

for mind NZ have 3 specialist bowlers, 2 bowling allrounders (one on the comeback & yet to hit form), and Styris as a bowling allrounder recently converted to a batting allrounder.........

furthermore with these 6 options there is little variation from RMF / RFM...........Tuffey & Martin do not get a lot of shape on the ball, Cairns & Oram bang it in & look for movement off the seam, Vettori always looks the goods but fails to take wickets, and Styris is medium pace...............the seam bowlers bowl around the low - mid 130 kph mark, with the occaisional balls getting up towards 140 kph...........Cairns is still trying to gain form with the ball, Tuffey has a problem with his knee (as does Styris which restricts his bowling), Martin has not played Test cricket for 2 years & has only got his game together again this season.........Oram does not get bags of wickets as e is not that sort of bowler...........

As the NZ bowling attack lacks penetration they should be looking for more genuine variation in their specialist attack, such as genuine swing or left arm over - not more of the same...

the batting from No4 on has been brittle or failed to contribute consistantly enough at this level, with Styris doing well once he gets in, McMillan & Cairns looking for form..........and Oram only recently starting to show his batting credentials.....

as I posted earlier on these current tracks I'd be looking at the following.........on form..........

Richardson, Papps, Fleming, Sinclair, Styris, Oram, McCullum, Vettori, Franklin, Tuffey, ................with Butler, Mills, Mason & Martin fighting for the last spot..........

I'm really curious to see what they will do when Astle is fit....................

 

[anzac]

Tuffey needs to be used sparingly during the remainder of this Test & spelled for the 3rd if they want him to go to England.........

Martin needs a blinder to stay in the team...........as does Cairns....(as does Macca with the bat)..........

if this test is drawn & the above fail to respond, then I'd look to make changes as posted previously as there is nothing to loose on these flat tracks (the batting would not be weakened & the bowling has not looked like taking 20 wickets yet), and have Cairns, Macca & Martin play the 'A' series to try and play into form for the England tour...............

 

[Kent]

I guess I'm still a traditionalist & prefer to see 6 specialist batsmen (some of whom can roll their arm over), and 4 specialist bowlers.................the only exception to this for me would be the inclusion of genuine all rounders who can be relied upon to provide with both bat and ball...............

as I posted earlier on these current tracks I'd be looking at the following.........on form..........

Richardson, Papps, Fleming, Sinclair, Styris, Oram, McCullum, Vettori, Franklin, Tuffey, ................with Butler, Mills, Mason & Martin fighting for the last spot..........

I'm really curious to see what they will do when Astle is fit....................

You've still only got 5 specialist batsmen there Anzac, unless Oram's last 2 innings (and new average of 39) has already convinced you. I don't think he'll be a Jacques Kallis, but he says he still regards himself as a batting all-rounder.

Liking specialists is one thing, unreliable specialists is another. McMillan could never be described as a dependable source of runs, so to be honest I'd rather cobble together my total with handy batsmen from #6 down.

McMillan needs big runs soon to keep Astle out I reckon. Some people would chuck Cairns in and say three big names with just two chairs, and the music stops this winter.

Richardson
Papps
Fleming

+

Styris
Astle/McMillan
Oram
Cairns
McCullum

or

Styris
Astle
McMillan
Oram
McCullum

 

[Mister Wright]

IMO Tuffey has been kept in the side with injury because without Bond and Cairns (at his best) there isn't a real striker with the ball. But it is probably better for Tuffey to have a few weeks off and get the knee right before N.Z. head off to England.

 

[Tim]

I think NZ need to cut their losses & leave Tuffey out of the 3rd test...there's likelyhood that if he keeps playing now he could miss out on England altogether.

NZ's pace attack would become fairly blunt then..I know they're desperate to win, but a drawn test series & a 5-1 result in the ODI's would have NZ come out as the victors in my mind.

 

[anzac]

You've still only got 5 specialist batsmen there Anzac, unless Oram's last 2 innings (and new average of 39) has already convinced you. I don't think he'll be a Jacques Kallis, but he says he still regards himself as a batting all-rounder.

you've caught me out - saying one thing and doing another......I was having a bob each way - some changes to be made and yet still keeping it in line with the current selections.......but with 4 specialists bowlers and 1 all rounder instead of a 3 - 2 split.............I also note I left Tuffey in the team and yet I meant to leave him out?????

my real preferences for the 3rd Test are as follows,

Richardson, Papps, Fleming, Sinclair, Fulton, Styris, Oram, McCullum, Vettori, Franklin, Mason...............

however if the selectors rest Tuffey I can not see them not playing Cairns to have some experience in the seam attack.........

 

[Mingster]

Chris Martin was consistently above 137+ yesterday with the new bal.

Anzac, James Franklin. It's all so hyped up. He has done well in the State Championship with wickets, but a number of other bowlers did too and failed on the international stage.

I agree with you on Oram though, he's more of a containing bowler, not an attacking one. However his overall abilities command a place in the Test team.

 

[Mingster]

Chris Martin was consistently above 137+ yesterday with the new bal.

Anzac, James Franklin. It's all so hyped up. He has done well in the State Championship with wickets, but a number of other bowlers did too and failed on the international stage.

I agree with you on Oram though, he's more of a containing bowler, not an attacking one. However his overall abilities command a place in the Test team.

 

[PY]

Collapse-tastic.

3 wickets fall for 5 runs.

244/5 now.