*Official* South Africa in New Zealand

[Craig]

Is James going to this Test (one of the day's play or two) and come back with heaps of photos to entertain me while I search through the photo archives and everything else on this site :P :saint: :alien8:

 

[Langeveldt]

Is James going to this Test (one of the day's play or two) and come back with heaps of photos to entertain me while I search through the photo archives and everything else on this site :P :saint: :alien8:

Hehe that would be good...

Im getting a rather storming new camera for my birthday, the Kiwis play in England next so I hope to get plenty of stuff....

 

[anzac]

I've just re read my last post and it would appear that it would still indicate that I'm advocating Mills ahead of Mason....:rolleyes:

when I said I think they will go for the latter option that is supposed to refer to Martin opening with Oram, and Mason being selected ahead of Mills.................

when I referred to Mason as 'containment' I only meant so far as giving the batsmen less stroke options by keeping a tight line & length.............

I am aware that his performances in the ODIs overshadowed Mills & his F/C stats are better - as I said my only concern is that he had only taken 6 wickets in 2 matches v SRL 'A' and all of those were in the 2nd innings of each match - granted he got 5 in the 1st match, but Mills' performance in the 2nd match had him taking wickets in both innings and for less runs.............

using this as most current indicator (without being able to have seen any reports etc about how well either may have bowled), the assumption can be made that Mills is in more of a 'strike' mode / form than Mason - if he's not taking wickets against the SRL 'A' side what makes us think he is in form to do so against RSA????

hence my assertion that it may come down to wether the selectors want another 'strike' bowler or 'containment', and the concerns regarding having a new 'strike' attack, whereas from memory Oram provided an into the wind option v India & even opened the attack in the 2nd innings?????

Regardless I'm certainly not in favour of Mills over Mason, but was in favour of Franklin over either.......

 

[Mingster]

Bloody hell Anzac mate.

Based on ONE game, you can judge on whether Mills is in better strike mode or whatever than Mason? Get real...

Mason might not have taken a bunch load of wickets, but his performances in the ODIs were enough to convince that he is a better option than Mills.

 

[Mingster]

Regardless I'm certainly not in favour of Mills over Mason, but was in favour of Franklin over either.......

What? So suddendly, the pace bowler find of the summer in Michael Mason loses out to James Franklin who has been applying his trade in first-class cricket against weak competition?

Franklin wouldn't add much to the current Test team. Our current attack lacks penetration anyway, and with the addition of James Franklin's medium pacers (125-130) it just gets lamer.

 

[anzac]

Bloody hell Anzac mate.

Based on ONE game, you can judge on whether Mills is in better strike mode or whatever than Mason? Get real...

Mason might not have taken a bunch load of wickets, but his performances in the ODIs were enough to convince that he is a better option than Mills.

this ain't ODIs & in the same match together Mills took wickets in both innings & cheaper than Mason who took 1 in the 2nd innings...............

I liked what I saw from Mason in the ODIs - all I'm saying is that you have to acknowledge that Mills' stats from the 'A' game were better.............

it depends on what their strategy is going to be IMO and what role they are looking for...

as I've said I think they will go for Mason - not because he is in any better form from the ODIs of has better stats as a 'strike' bowler, nor will it have anything to do with Mills' performances head to head with Mason - but rather in spite of it.....

because bottom line Mason is likely to have more control over his line & length at The Basin than Mills..........and they do not want to have a seam bowler struggling at The Basin & give RSA any opportunity to square the series -

a bit like covering your bases - Mills may well be in better wicket taking form from the 'A' match figures - but that potential means nothing compared to the difference between winning the series 1-0, to drawing it 1-1..............

 

[Mingster]

Should we put Mat Bell in the NZ side now because he scored a century? And according to your theory, it means he should be in the side automatically...

Chris Martin didn't take the most wickets in the matches he played, and he did well in the Test matches. Was that a wrong selection Anzac?

 

[Kent]

Anyone else see Shane Bond on the TV3 news?

Glad to say he didn't look like a medium-pacer, and his new action didn't look halting or awkward at all. 6 overs, 1 for 44 in a club game suggests we should give him plenty of time to get back to a high level though.

Also, hearing Bracewell say the other night that he thinks Vettori's arm-ball is really just a weapon for tail-enders these days makes me wonder what Vettori will actually offer under the new coach.

Is he going to work with him on exciting new variations, or is he saying he perceives him as just a stock bowler from now on?

 

[luckyeddie]

This article smacks of Wisden's influence on cricinfo to me. When ill-informed and trying to be an authority, include some flowery prose or latch on to irrelevant cliches.

Your point being?

(LE recognises his own style of writing - apart from the fact that there are one or two more relevant points in the Cricinfo article)

Just kidding. If I ever submit an article like that (apart from the 'greatest test' ones which are MEANT to be flowery), shoot my good knee, will you?

 

[Kent]

Sorry Eddie - Before I realised you'd replied, I deleted that one with the plan of maybe posting it tomorrow.

Post twice in a row and you tend to get nothing on the first one.

Anyway here's the article link if other people are now curious -

http://nz.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/CRICKET_NEWS/2004/MAR/104100_COL-WORLD_22MAR2004.html

 

[luckyeddie]

Sorry Eddie - Before I realised you'd replied

<snip>

Thanks

<quack> I'd have left it

What - and make me look a fool?

<quack> You don't need my help for that

 

[Isolator]

Anyone else see Shane Bond on the TV3 news?

Glad to say he didn't look like a medium-pacer, and his new action didn't look halting or awkward at all. 6 overs, 1 for 44 in a club game suggests we should give him plenty of time to get back to a high level though.

Can you give me any idea of what it looks like? How much has it changed from his previous one - is it just a modification or a wholly new one?

 

[anzac]

What? So suddendly, the pace bowler find of the summer in Michael Mason loses out to James Franklin who has been applying his trade in first-class cricket against weak competition?

Franklin wouldn't add much to the current Test team. Our current attack lacks penetration anyway, and with the addition of James Franklin's medium pacers (125-130) it just gets lamer.

Mason the pace bowling find of the summer - yeah right.......not!!!

He's been on the fringe of the ODI squad since b4 the WC, he's only played the last 2 ODIs v RSA & has the grand total of 3 wickets or thereabouts................and he's hardly set the 'A' series alight.................

so far as Franklin plying his trade against weak opposition in F/C - he finished top wicket taker with 36 @ an average of 21, Mason took 11 @ an average of 24..............

granted Mason has the better season stats for the Shield, but we are talking pospects for the longer game................Mason may have more pace than Franklin, but IMO Franklin offers more with his left arm over & his batting...........

IMO the 'find' of the summer is more likely to be a relative unknown such as Scott - finished 5th in the Championship & 1st in the Shield..............

the bowling comeback of the summer is C Martin - the only reason I don't give him the gong for find of the summer is that he already has 10+ tests under his belt, so they knew what he was capable of - just a matter of his getting it back together.......

:P

 

[anzac]

Should we put Mat Bell in the NZ side now because he scored a century? And according to your theory, it means he should be in the side automatically...

Chris Martin didn't take the most wickets in the matches he played, and he did well in the Test matches. Was that a wrong selection Anzac?

I wasn't aware the we required a replacement opener - so you're arguement is irrelevant and illogical......

I do see what you are driving at and no that would not make him an automatic choice, just an option - same as for Mills & Mason. The eventual selection would be based upon the role required & the alternatives available.

So far as Martin's previous Test career goes that is also irrelevant due to his abscence & poor form over the past few seasons, to the extent that he could not hold his place in the Canterbury side coming into this season & has virtually risen from obscurity..........

so far as this season is concerned he is the leading wicket taker in the 2 matches he has played at the higher level - being the 1st 'A' match & the 2nd Test.........

:P

 

[Langeveldt]

Anyone else see Shane Bond on the TV3 news?

Glad to say he didn't look like a medium-pacer, and his new action didn't look halting or awkward at all. 6 overs, 1 for 44 in a club game suggests we should give him plenty of time to get back to a high level though.

I hope he does a Simon Jones and makes a big return to the scene...

He struck me as being a classy bowler with a classy action... I hope the injury hasnt taken too much out of him...

 

[Langeveldt]

Radio Streaming???

Hi all.... I have been searching for live audio for the NZ v SA series without any success... I cannot find a live webcast for Radio Sport in NZ, has anyone found live coverage???? Many thanks..

 

[Craig]

Craig McMillan got ruled out with an food poisning?

Anyway good to see Matt Sinclair take his 11th hour call-up with a good innings so far.

The big news is Jacques Kallis doing bowling an adboninal muscle while and wont bowl in this innings and most likely wont bowl again in this Test.

Especially since he was doing well in his role as bowling into the wind.

 

[Token]

Chris Cairns, totally out of character, hits his first 6 and doubles his total.

 

[Tim]

NZ should be extremely angry with their batting performance today.

Papps got a horrendous decision from Dar, considering how wide of the crease Ntini was bowling..there's no way you can be certain it will hit the stumps.

From what I saw, Fleming, Richardson & Styris all played loose or reckless shots.

McCullum's dismissal has probably given South Africa the intiative but if Cairns keeps going, he's got 2 good attacking batsmen left in Oram & Vettori to get them to hopefully around 400.

Good crowd today, top effort Wellington.

 

[Tim]

I know there's been alot of talk about Matt Sinclair recently, a few people (and they know who they are) have said he's not good enough for international cricket. But he CLEARLY showed today that if he's seeing the ball well he's as good as most of the other batsmen around.

A shame he couldn't go on, but in the context he played out an important knock.