*Official* South Africa in New Zealand

[anzac]

I think Mason will play ahead of Mills. Well that's what I will do.

Franklin should be considered for England as an option to give the attack variety if they want an all seam line-up.

Bond will probably get his spot back but hasnt played any cricket in over a year...

needless to say I'm disappointed Franklin didn't get the nod...........top wicket taker in the domestic season and a Test on his home turf and he doesn't get a look :rolleyes:

I think Mills will get the nod over Mason if they want to attack the RSA batsmen - he knows them from the ODIs (as does Mason), and has taken wickets at in both innings v SRL 'A' with good figures.........Mason will get the nod if they want a bowlers to bowl tight line & length & contain................

my concern re Mason is that he has only taken about 3 or 4 wickets in the 2 'A' series matches, and both have come in the 2nd innings from memory - not 'strike' material which would leave Martin as our only 'strike' bowler unless Cairns suddenly gets it together.............

so far as the touring squad to England goes I now doubt Franklin will have any chance unless Bond, Tuffey & Butler are all unable to be considered & the selectors only take 1 spinner, as it now appears that Martin, Mills & Mason are also considered ahead of him

a lot will depend on the type of pitches in England this time around - usually you can expect something similar to NZ conditions, but on last year's efforts v RSA they were flat as pancakes with little seam, swing or spin..............sounds like the 2 test pitches in this series so far & no need for a 2nd spinner in the squad................

8D

 

[Tim]

I think they need to take a back-up opener, a middle order batsman, 2 extra pace bowlers & either an extra all-rounder or spinner.

Don't forget that Papps can wicket-keep well..but they don't want him having the burden of opening the batting & keeping all the time.

 

[anzac]

My bad, for some reason I thought there were 4 days only!

seemed like it didn't it.....................

even more impressive.....................

 

[anzac]

I think they need to take a back-up opener, a middle order batsman, 2 extra pace bowlers & either an extra all-rounder or spinner.

Don't forget that Papps can wicket-keep well..but they don't want him having the burden of opening the batting & keeping all the time.

Vincent fits the 1st 2 criteria - bearing in mind he would be selected as a middle order batsman primarily, and a back up opener if required;

Franklin then fits the next 2 criteria as a seam bowling 'allrounder'...........

if the pitches are anything like they were for the RSA series then a 2nd spinner is not warranted, but perhaps a consistant line & length bowler like Mason would be.................

if the pitches are flat then someone like Sinclair could also be an option....................

8D

 

[Tim]

I would certainly think about putting Sinclair in the team if any of the wickets are going to be flat roads.
Unfortunately for him, if there is the slighest hint on seam movement then there's no point playing him because his footwork won't be good enough.

 

[Kent]

Fleming: ...with Nathan Astle, Shane Bond-type players to come back into the side I think we can only get stronger, so where the ceiling is we're not sure...

Bryan Waddle: Where do they get in?

Fleming: [Laughs]. Oh they'll get in. Don't worry about that...

Astle in a fine player, but I didn't think he'd get Bond-like assurance! He was pretty poor in England on his last visit when you consider the WC as well, but we all know what he did to their attack here at home. Martin Crowe (1.13MB, 14 minutes in) thinks Papps could be dropped with Fleming opening and Styris at 3.

I know he's Fleming's mentor and I have to respect his batting knowledge, but that's a lot more fiddling than I'd like. This is one tour where I'd want a Papps to keep Fleming away from Hoggard and co.'s swing for as long as possible.

I'm sure he'd say it's just his opinion, but bear in mind Crowe's closeness to the skipper. I'm starting to think this might be what the BC's actually do in England.

 

[Tim]

Astle has improved as a test batsman over the last 3 or 4 years mind you...

Since 2001:

v Australia 80.50 in 5 innings
v Bangladesh 5.00 in 1 innings
v England 62.80 in 6 innings
v West Indies 37.00 in 4 innings
v India 18.33 in 3 innings
v India 86.00 in 3 innings

Now he'd be disappointed with his 1 innings against Bangladesh, but pretty much every batsman failed during the Indian tour here a year or so ago.

Other than that, those averages make for pretty good reading.

 

[Kent]

Yep, developing that flick through midwicket has really added to Astle's game no doubt. The last thing you want to do is give him width but now if you get too straight he picks up easy runs anyway.

He does lead with his front pad a lot early in his innings though, which could be a concern in England conditions. Especially if they use those Duke balls which tend to swing more.

Not that McMillan isn't also an LB candidate, but at least he's played a summer of cricket to build up his form. If he scores heavily at the Basin I really don't know what you can do.

 

[Tim]

McMillan has only got 2 decent scores over the whole South African tour..im still not satisfied that he's totally cemented himself.

To me, having Nathan Astle at 5 looks more solid than having Craig McMillan at 5.

 

[Kent]

Agreed, but I can see the headlines from here. The media hath no easier copy than a Macca scorned!

That new sports disputes tribunal might not even be out of the question.

 

[Craig]

June
3-7 2nd Test Headingley
10-14 3rd Test Trent Bridge

Good to see a Test at Headingly. If its overcast dont be surprised if Tuffey does very well.

 

[marc71178]

Good to see a Test at Headingly. If its overcast dont be surprised if Tuffey does very well.

It's Headlingley - of course you would expect the better bowlers in each side to perform well!!!

 

[Mingster]

needless to say I'm disappointed Franklin didn't get the nod...........top wicket taker in the domestic season and a Test on his home turf and he doesn't get a look :rolleyes:

I think Mills will get the nod over Mason if they want to attack the RSA batsmen - he knows them from the ODIs (as does Mason), and has taken wickets at in both innings v SRL 'A' with good figures.........Mason will get the nod if they want a bowlers to bowl tight line & length & contain................

my concern re Mason is that he has only taken about 3 or 4 wickets in the 2 'A' series matches, and both have come in the 2nd innings from memory - not 'strike' material which would leave Martin as our only 'strike' bowler unless Cairns suddenly gets it together.............

so far as the touring squad to England goes I now doubt Franklin will have any chance unless Bond, Tuffey & Butler are all unable to be considered & the selectors only take 1 spinner, as it now appears that Martin, Mills & Mason are also considered ahead of him

a lot will depend on the type of pitches in England this time around - usually you can expect something similar to NZ conditions, but on last year's efforts v RSA they were flat as pancakes with little seam, swing or spin..............sounds like the 2 test pitches in this series so far & no need for a 2nd spinner in the squad................

8D

What makes you think Mills knows more about the SA batsmen than Mason? Mills failed against them while Mason was a success.

Mills won't play, I'm 99% certain of it.

 

[anzac]

What makes you think Mills knows more about the SA batsmen than Mason? Mills failed against them while Mason was a success.

Mills won't play, I'm 99% certain of it.

you misread between my lines.................

I was saying that both Mills & Mason know the RSA batsmen from the ODIs - Mills had more games than Mason...............

IMO if they want a new ball bowler to partner Martin & ATTACK the batsmen then Mills would appear to be the better option based on the figures from the 'A' games.......

If they want a containment bowler then Mason would be my choice with Oram sharing the new ball with Martin..............

I'd not pick Mason as a 'strike' option because he has only taken wickets in the 2nd innings in the 'A' games - 5 in the 1st and only 1 wicket for the 2nd match, whereas Mills took 6 or so..............

personally my bet is they do go with the latter option as they will err on the side of caution regarding an entirely new new ball attack..........

 

[Mingster]

you misread between my lines.................

I was saying that both Mills & Mason know the RSA batsmen from the ODIs - Mills had more games than Mason...............

IMO if they want a new ball bowler to partner Martin & ATTACK the batsmen then Mills would appear to be the better option based on the figures from the 'A' games.......

If they want a containment bowler then Mason would be my choice with Oram sharing the new ball with Martin..............

I'd not pick Mason as a 'strike' option because he has only taken wickets in the 2nd innings in the 'A' games - 5 in the 1st and only 1 wicket for the 2nd match, whereas Mills took 6 or so..............

personally my bet is they do go with the latter option as they will err on the side of caution regarding an entirely new new ball attack..........

Mate, you really have had to watch the ODIs to see what Michael Mason offers. He's not a bloody containing bowler, he is durable, comes in close to the wicket, and can swing the red ball.

The selectors won't go for Mills because 'he has taken more wickets in the 'A' games' only. Did you not also see Mason took a
5-wicket bag in the first 'A' game as well?

Mills has had more games than Mason, but did you see that he played crap? He is an erratic bowler, some days he's a class act while some days he just seems like a lost soul. And sadly the latter is more common than the former.

And regarding you saying that Mills is more of a first-class strike bowler than Mason, Mills has a bowling average of 30 while Mason's is under 25.

Mason was already in the 1st Test squad, and was pulled out because of Paul Wiseman's inclusion. All things point to Mason's selection, not only because of the selectors, but also because of his performances.

 

[Tim]

It'll be Mason...here's why:

NZ will want a bowler who is consistent in line & length to continuously run up into the strong wind at Wellington.
You need a bowler who isn't going to err too often because of the wind the batsmen have behind them to hit down the ground. Unfortunately for Mills he isn't as good as Mason at keeping consistent.

 

[Mingster]

Mills may well be a good Test prospect in a few years time, but it's not his time now.

A good thing about him is that he can swing the ball, whether it be orthodox or reverse.

 

[Craig]

What is the pitch like for Wellington?

I wonder if Albie Morkel will play and be used as into the wind bowler?

Face it there is no chance Pollock will bowl into the wind.

 

[nibbs]

there is no way mills will play, unless someone get injured. and thats not going to happen. mills bowling isn't up to par yet. Mason will get the nod fo sho.

 

[Kent]

We've had a fine month of weather, and the pitch block has been full of runs for most of the season anyway. The curator doesn't think it will be completely dead though -

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sports/sp...section=cricket&thesecondsubsection=blackcaps

I thought a test in almost April down here would be cold and windy as hell, and over the weekend that may be the case. The forecast is for a nice Friday though and hopefully Wellington will provide good crowds.

I don't know if it's the more traditional culture, the conservative civil servant ethics down here or what, but no-one I've talked to wants to let one of the Basin's more important, historic matches down. People are planning days off work and everything.