***Official*** South Africa in New Zealand 2012

[Flem274*]

I did mention the upgrade in openers - but in general at this stage the 2012 team is just "on paper" as well so we should just be judging by the cachet of their names in 2007 as opposed to how they played. With the exception of Taylor who you pointed out has improved.

What are you predicting for this series 2-1 3-0?

The 2012 side is short on career records, but they're in a much better place right now and have form behind them.

The 2007 side hadn't played any cricket for a long time and it showed.

I'm predicting 3-0 to South Africa. Kallis and co. are bound to hurt our bowlers at least a couple of times and I doubt we have the batting to withstand sustained performance from the South African bowlers.

I think there will be bright spots, maybe even whole days, but we will lose all three games.

[Bahnz]

1-1 in the tests.

And just to be clear, I'm being serious.

[Bahnz]

Ryder shouldn't play either.

Good one.

[Flem274*]

1-1 in the tests.

And just to be clear, I'm being serious.

The last time you were positive I'm pretty sure something bad happened.

Bet on South Africa Bahnzy. Sacrifice your livelihood and dignity for your country.

[KiWiNiNjA]

Good one.

srsly!

[Bahnz]

The last time you were positive I'm pretty sure something bad happened.

Bet on South Africa Bahnzy. Sacrifice your livelihood and dignity for your country.

It's been working a treat of late. Bet on England to win both of the first two tests against Pakistan, and got rewarded with a couple of fantastic upsets.

[Hurricane]

The last time you were positive I'm pretty sure something bad happened.

Bet on South Africa Bahnzy. Sacrifice your livelihood and dignity for your country.

I was watching a playoff game in Canada - a fellow kept on bringing us bad luck in the pub, whenever he went to the washroom we scored though. In the end the crowd locked him in the washroom for the 3rd period.

[morgieb]

New Zealand's side the last time SA toured was pretty good IIRC.

[Bahnz]

New Zealand's side the last time SA toured was pretty good IIRC.

Yep, that was kind've the last hurrah for Fleming's side. Richardson, Astle, Styris, McMillan, Cairns, Oram and a white-hot Martin.

[Marius]

On paper I would say SA will win.

Unfortunately cricket is played on grass, not paper :-/

Anyway, my SA side would pretty much be the one that did duty in the last Test against SL. So:

Petersen
Smith
Amla
Kallis
De Villiers
Rudolph
Boucher
Philander
Steyn
Morkel
Tahir

Personally I think its time to put Boucher out to pasture. He is far past his best, and we have a number of guys in FC cricket at home who are pushing for a place in the side. But he is the Test squad, and he is best keeper we are taking over.

I also don't know how Robin Peterson is in the touring party for the Tests.

[KiWiNiNjA]

Our ODI team?
McCullum (wk)
Guptill
Ryder
Taylor (c)
Williamson
Brownlee/Nicol/Ellis
NcCullum
Oram
Bracewell
Mills
Southee/other seamer

Guptill
Nicol
McCullum (wk) (c)
Williamson
Brownlie
Latham
Neesham (yep)
NcCullum
Bracewell
Oram
Mills

Left out:
Taylor - injured
Ryder - not fit enough
Southee - has been poo for a while

[Days of Grace]

Taylor should be back for the ODI series.

[KiWiNiNjA]

He's out at least 4 weeks, with basically 4 weeks between his injury and the 1st ODI against South Africa.

I doubt he plays the ODIs (well, I don't want him to), Tests are more important.

[Shri]

Odds on Abdv making a real quick 100 on this tour?

Can't wait to see Philander bowl again.

[NZTailender]

What with the Zimbabwe series and ODIs first, we might get a nice bit of confident momentum happening for the Test series. Just checked, and we've only played South Africa 6 times in ODIs in the past 5 years, winning 3 and losing 3. On paper SA's side is stronger, easily, but we've shown we can steal matches out from under them, and while ODI performance shouldn't have too much weight on Test performance, I think if we can get a ODI series win, a Test win and a tied series will be on the cards. I'll go same as Bahnz; 1-1.