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General Cricket => World Cricket => South Africa => Topic started by: Felix Tito on August 18, 2016, 09:18:19 PM
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So another big Test series kicks off tomorrow. The fallen giants South Africa, against the ever popular and exciting New Zealand. This series has been dubbed 'age vs youth. Biggest story ahead of the series is that South African captain AB de Villiers is 'injured' I'm unsure whether I believe this TBH, as de Villiers has openly been against the enforced quotas and as such I wouldn't be surprised if he washed his hands with the national side. Other injury news was that Morne Morkel is out with a back injury.
The other main talking points are the returns of South Africa's superstar opening bowlers Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander. Not a bad pair to bring back in ;). Faf du Plessis is captain in the absence of de Villier.
New Zealand have no such selection problems as they have just recently routed Zimbabwe and all the batsmen got solid runs under their belts.
Interesting to note that this is the first time Test cricket is being played so early in the South African season, it's actually still winter according to cricinfo. Due to the time of year Durban looks more subcontinental than the 'Green Mamba' that's usually on offer.
South Africa: (probable) 1 Stephen Cook, 2 Dean Elgar, 3 Hashim Amla, 4 Faf du Plessis (capt), 5 Temba Bavuma, 6 JP Duminy, 7 Quinton de Kock (wk), 8 Vernon Philander, 9 Dane Piedt, 10 Dale Steyn, 11 Kagiso Rabada
The South African middle order looks weak without their superstar. du Plessis was dropped for their last Test and is now captain :o and Duminy has had more chances that Rohit Sharma with actually ever showing any improvement. Plus only 4 bowlers when two are returning from long lay offs equals RISKY! Even if they are as good as Steyn and Philander. I think Morris can feel a little peed to miss out as well.
New Zealand: (probable) 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Tom Latham, 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Henry Nicholls 6 BJ Watling (wk), 7 Mitchell Santner, 8 Doug Bracewell/Ish Sodhi 9 Neil Wagner, 10 Trent Boult, 11 Tim Southee
New Zealand seem very settled only question marks over Guptill and Nicholls. Santner looks a brilliant prospect almost a mine Daniel Vettori. I don't rate Sodhi at all and I'm a big fan of Bracewell. The qualities of Southee, Boult and Wagner are well known.
This is New Zealand's best chance of turning South Africa at home as perhaps enter the series as favourites. Lets hope for another cracking series :D
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Any New Zealanders on the forum? What's the current situation with Adam Milne, no form, broken down?
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Two tests though? Bluerrrrrrrrrrrrgh
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Any New Zealanders on the forum? What's the current situation with Adam Milne, no form, broken down?
They don't trust him over 5 days. He's been very unlucky with injuries.
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Faf du Plessis has won the toss and elected to bat. Match has been delayed by a wet outfield, and as such might be a decent session to bowl first.
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is there a reason why south africa are playing a series so early in their season?
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is there a reason why south africa are playing a series so early in their season?
At the risk of being cynical, I would guess it's to do with money - trying to fit as many games in as possible with little regard for how it might affect the quality of the cricket.
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Also I worry for any side when you have Duminy at #5
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is there a reason why south africa are playing a series so early in their season?
South Africa are going to Australia straight after this series, and they haven't played any Test matches since we where there at back in December/January
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Also I worry for any side when you have Duminy at #5
He won't be playing much if/when de Villlers comes back
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He's in at 4!!
SA are so poor so far..
Opening pair
One driving on the up, front foot not anywhere near the ball most times and the other hangs back to half volleys and unsurprisingly nicks a length ball to keeper. Both need firing ASAP.
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Fluff du Plessis as Test captain? Good grief, that's rewarding extended mediocrity. Hiding down the order too.
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Boult 1-8 off 8 overs. The rest 69 off 14 overs...
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Amla looking class apart
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some catch that from KW!
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De cock.. That's shocking. Yet another example of a white ball player unable to play test match cricket. Very very ordinary
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His hundred against England earlier in the year wasn't bad...
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His hundred against England earlier in the year wasn't bad...
Must be world class then sigh.. Gets out like today way to often to be a test player
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SA need to restrict their players T20 assignments all over the world. If premier batsman like ABD keep showing up in IPL, CPL etc etc .. then this is what will happen.
Disaster awaits South Africa in this test series !
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Where's Gerry SA's thoughts when you need them?
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What a poor shot from Latham...disappointing. Perfect conditions for steyn.
Steyn vs KW should be a contest
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New Zealand wasted the new ball yesterday. Southee and Bracewell failed to ably support Boult and as such South Africa where gifted plenty of easy runs. Boult's figures weren't to dissimilar to what Steyn has thus far produced. By philander has been much better support. 260 looking a very decent score at present
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Bright sunny day and we have a wash out of day 3. Teaches the SA board for arranging matches in winter
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Yes, not the best advert for scheduling cricket during winter.
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South Africa: 1 Quinton de Kock (w/k) , 2 Stephen Cook, 3 Hashim Amla, 4 Faf du Plessis (capt), 5 Temba Bavuma, 6 JP Duminy/Wayne Parnell, 7 Stiann van Zyl, 8 Vernon Philander, 9 Dale Steyn, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Dane Piedt
New Zealand: 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Tom Latham, 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Henry Nicholls, 6 BJ Watling (wk), 7 Mitchell Santner, 8 Doug Bracewell, 9 Neil Wagner, 10 Tim Southee, 11 Trent Boult
Second Test starts at Supersport Park in Centurion. Weather forecast is bright and sunny for the next five days(yippee) after the nightmare in Durban.
Kane Williamson won the toss and elected to field. The Kiwis are unchanged.
One change for South Africa, Dean Elgar is out with an ankle injury. Stiann van Zyl gets a chance. Rejig in the batting with de Kock opening and van Zyl in the middle order.
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South a frica 54 for 0.
Apparently This is only the 3 rd opening partnership passed fifty at home since the retirement off Graeme smith.
This is from a partnership that Shoudlnt be there(SA have admitted de kock won't open while keeping normally, but Elgar pulling up injured late gave them no choice)
Struggling times for SA? Or as our resident white ball hater keeps reminding us, struggling times for the world over in terms of proper test batsmen out there.
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Kane Williamson has made a boo boo by sending the South Africans in on a pitch that looks ideal for batting. Even bounce and rapid outfield. I think Williamson was influenced by the green tinge and how Steyn and Philander bowled in New Zealand's brief innings at Durban.
Not sure de Kock why can't succeed as an opener TBH. His technique is good and more often than not he puts the bad ball to the fence. Seems a good combination with the more watchful Cook. Although I wouldn't want my premier keeper opening...
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BJ Watling, a superb wicketkeeper/batsman P4P the best in the business for my money, has had a poor session. Shelled a tough chance offered up by de Kock and dropped an absolute dolly offered up by Cook. South Africa 100/0 first century opening stand since 2013
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Pretty indifferent umpiring on display at Centurion. Stephen Cook and JP Duminy both luck to survive plumb LBWs(Cook is out now) but Williamson elected not to review either of these...
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Amla's a bit of a machine. 1000 Test runs against New Zealand at an eye catching averaging of 83. Yeah not to shabby
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I think Ian Gould's mincers are going. Made a lot of mistakes in the WIvIND series. And he's currently having a very poor day in South Africa. Multiple incorrect decisions
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Safe to say Williamson might have regretted his decision to insert the hosts at Supersport Park. South Africa closed on 283/3. Cook, de Kock and Amla all passed 50. Duminy is 67*
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Tim Southee's poor form is really hurting the Kiwis. Southee's last 14 Tests have only yielded 39 wickets at an unflattering average of 42. Trent Boult hasn't had the same venom since he suffered a back injury on their tour of England last year either.
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Watching the highlights.
Wasn't Stiaan Van Zyl opening against England in January? Swear I've just seen him come in at 7. Did he forget his bat and had to go home to get it?
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Watching the highlights.
Wasn't Stiaan Van Zyl opening against England in January? Swear I've just seen him come in at 7. Did he forget his bat and had to go home to get it?
According to Shaun Pollock and the other South African commentators van Zyl is a middle order player. And he was exposed as a makeshift opener so they won't use him there again. Anyway when Elgar and de Villiers return he probably won't play anyway.
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The South Africans flexed their muscles on day 2 of the second Test. Stand in captain Faf du Plessis brought up his 5th Test century and his first as captain. Over 2 years since he last scored a Test hundred. South Africa eventually declared on 481/8, Steyn enjoyed himself by tonking Santner literally out of the stadium with a monstrous 6! South Africa then unleashed their star studded opening bowlers on the New Zealand top order and once again they where found wanting. Guptill flopped again, this time Philander snared him. Steyn bagged Latham again. Taylor copped a barrage from Steyn, before he ran himself out. 36/3 and in deep trouble. Williamson still hanging in there.
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Steady the ship will keep going
Sadly the others you've named aren't good enough but the best there is in NZ's small pool of players
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Forgot to mention the outstanding Neil Wagner bagged 5/86. Lionhearted effort from the left armer on his former home ground. Gotta say I'm really impressed with Wagner, he's gone from a bit of a journeyman to a top class Test bowler
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Steady the ship will keep going
Sadly the others you've named aren't good enough but the best there is in NZ's small pool of players
Bit harsh on Ross Taylor! I'd give my right leg to average 47!
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Bit harsh on Ross Taylor! I'd give my right leg to average 47!
He's no Williamson
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Unsure why guptil is even in this team, any time the ball moves he struggles.
Decision to give Latham out was really poor - unsure how the 3rd umpire overturned that. Happens a little too often with drs, the third umpire seeing something the viewers don't
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Commentators discussing the 3rd umpire calling no-balls after each delivery.
I hope they've doubled his pay. His job is now watching the bowlers front foot for 90 overs a day. Sounds a bit dull.
Also, anyone know what GN kit Nicholls is using? Looks like a cross between Powerbow 2015 and Slayer 2010. Is it a AUS/NZ only scheme?
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Commentators discussing the 3rd umpire calling no-balls after each delivery.
I hope they've doubled his pay. His job is now watching the bowlers front foot for 90 overs a day. Sounds a bit dull.
Also, anyone know what GN kit Nicholls is using? Looks like a cross between Powerbow 2015 and Slayer 2010. Is it a AUS/NZ only scheme?
Fusion.
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Fusion.
Thanks Skip, I like the softs, not too sure about he the stickers on the back of the bat though...
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Young Buck Kagiso Rabada has added some extra X factor to the South African pace attack. As good as Morkel has been, all he was capable of doing was continually bowling short. Whereas not only is Rabada rapid, he actually targets the stumps. He's worked over Nicholls and got him out. That's what pace does in international cricket.
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New Zealand in real trouble 106/5. Steyn picks up Watling after peppering him with a short pitch barrage.
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Gunner Goulds shocker continues... :(
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Two great bowlers ripping New Zealand to pieces 111/6
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Gunner Goulds shocker continues... :(
I like Gunner but he's having a mare :(
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Unsure why guptil is even in this team, any time the ball moves he struggles.
Decision to give Latham out was really poor - unsure how the 3rd umpire overturned that. Happens a little too often with drs, the third umpire seeing something the viewers don't
Guptil is a white ball player, like England are trying with hales/Roy/stokes and co. Perfectly fine against plod and on flat tracks. Get the ball swinging and seaming and they are screwed. Hence why you have to watch the games to assess if the runs are worth the stats. Avg 50 on roads but 25 on decent wickets tells you a story
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Inept batting effort from New Zealand after they where rolled for 214. Only Williamson 77 showed any technique against a rampant South African seam bowling trifecta. 3 wickets apiece for Steyn and Rabada(who bowled very quickly). de Kock has gone off like a train in the South African second innings.
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Well, it's gotten interesting
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And another!
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300/3 is hardly interesting
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South Africa trying to bring NZ back into this!
Wagner just wants steyn to come out to bat!!
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Close of play on day 3, South Africa 105/6 with a near unreachable 372 lead. Quinton de Kock blazed away to his second half century of the match. New Zealand's bowlers finally turned up, just 2 and a half days too late. Pitch is going seriously up and down, with no disrespect to the Kiwis but they are pretty much medium pacers. Steyn and Rabada could run riot when the Kiwis bat again.
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Kiwis apparently not returning to South Africa for another tour, but instead sending there u13s in there place.
Steyn saying mean things to Wagner got them all upset.......
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Kiwis apparently not returning to South Africa for another tour, but instead sending there u13s in there place.
Steyn saying mean things to Wagner got them all upset.......
😂😂😂 I've heard that the kiwis aren't going to try and chase the score down either but instead block everything on principal
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No love loss between Steyn and Wagner from their brief time in South African domestic cricket. Making an assessment of what Steyn said in the press conference after today's play, he basically called Wagner a medium paced dobber. Naturally Steyn can get away with comments like that as he bowls rockets. But Wagner made the problem of his own back by bouncing Steyn and Rabada. They bowl a lot quicker, Rabada in fact hit Wagner on the melon as well.
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Not sure Wagner is fussed, he took steyn for 22 of 9 balls before finally edging one. A nice swift 30 odd down the order isn't grumbled at.
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Guptil might as well play like he does against the white ball as he only has a couple more tests in him at this rate.
I have heard Wagner, while not the quickest is by far one of the hardest seamers to face when he bowls short. They heavy ball and all that but the amount of guys he hits or makes uncomfortable stacks up. If Steyn does come out Id say he will be fending off a few.
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Not sure Wagner is fussed, he took steyn for 22 of 9 balls before finally edging one. A nice swift 30 odd down the order isn't grumbled at.
If he'd hang around, rather than trying to go toe to toe with the great man, Williamson could've reached a well deserved century...
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If he'd hang around, rather than trying to go toe to toe with the great man, Williamson could've reached a well deserved century...
I'm happy for them to bat freely. If he tried to survive he might have got out for nothing. I love watching Boult bat as you never know whats coming next.
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The Kiwi side seems a little unbalanced in the absence of both Anderson and Neesham. At this stage Santner is probably still a number 8, and Watling is immense at 7.
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So SA declare(just before steyn had to come in) and NZ have a mammoth 400 to chase.
I doubt they will get near that. And with 5 and a half sessions remaining, a draw seems an impossible prospect.
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Latham gone leaving first ball......
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Latham gone leaving first ball......
Guptil gone first ball......
Both openers gone to steyn, cracking first over. Lol.
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Good lord, this could be quick.
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Some unplayable deliveries!
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Ah, test cricket
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The poor umpiring continues...including the 3rd umpire
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Seems as though Dale Steyn's decline was clearly wide off the mark. Those crazy eyes are back with a vengeance.
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All over. South Africa win by 214 runs.
Only nicolls put up a fight this innings with a gutsy 76, and like Williamson on the first, is the last man to fall.
Steyn with a five for.
Felix Tito to say exactly what I did in his report later......
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All over. South Africa win by 214 runs.
Only nicolls put up a fight this innings with a gutsy 76, and like Williamson on the first, is the last man to fall.
Steyn with a five for.
Felix Tito to say exactly what I did in his report later......
Now back to Gerry in the studio ;)
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Dale Steyn took with 26th Michelle, only Botham 27, McGrath 29 and Hadlee 36(incredible amount!!!) have more as fast/seam bowlers. The South African pacer should get passed Botham and McGrath.
Also sets up an epic pace bowling duel between Australia and South Africa in the upcoming tour. Starc has been on fire in Sri Lanka, that would be King. Steyn very much still the King. Throw in Rabada as well and that batsmen gonna be ducking for cover!
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http://www.espncricinfo.com/south-africa-v-new-zealand-2016/content/story/1052345.html (http://www.espncricinfo.com/south-africa-v-new-zealand-2016/content/story/1052345.html)
Maybe some of the T20 mercenaries should take note...
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Dale Steyn has returned to the top of the ICC Test bowlers rankings. I guess he was miffed at being labelled passed it!