**Official** New Zealand in South Africa

[Blain]

God this is horrible. The last 2 months has been a shambles and so many are to blame it's not funny.

Martin bowling at 120ks is a joke.

[Flem274*]

Originally Posted by Mike5181

Who would you replace him with? Wagner could probably last just as long with the bat.

Munro might have earned the right to be aggressive.

Is a miraculous return from Taylor and Ryder too much to hope for?

[Flem274*]

Originally Posted by hendrix

I would like to see Neesham come in for Franklin.

Not in the squad. Probably not ready either.

[Prince EWS]

Originally Posted by Flem274*

Is a miraculous return from Taylor and Ryder too much to hope for?

Yes FFS. It's not gonna happen. This is what you've got. And given that, Franklin should get the series, and then probably never play again.

[Flem274*]

Originally Posted by Blain

God this is horrible. The last 2 months has been a shambles and so many are to blame it's not funny.

Martin bowling at 120ks is a joke.

Clutching at straws I know but the radar might be a tad on the slow side. The first overs of both Philander and Steyn were mid 120s and Steyn infrequently hit 140kph for the rest of our very short innings.

[Flem274*]

Originally Posted by Prince EWS

Yes FFS. It's not gonna happen. This is what you've got. And given that, Franklin should get the series, and then probably never played again.

[Mike5181]

Originally Posted by Flem274*

Clutching at straws I know but the radar might be a tad on the slow side. The first overs of both Philander and Steyn were mid 120s and Steyn infrequently hit 140kph for the rest of our very short innings.

Morkel hit 145 quite a few times in his first over tbf.

[straw man]

Originally Posted by Flem274*

Munro might have earned the right to be aggressive.

I find it amusing that Howsie managed to not rant and say something hopeful about Franklin in the leadup to this test, because the alternative is Munro

[Mike5181]

David Leggat: The worst performance I've ever seen - Opinion - NZ Herald News

185 comments already.

[KungFu_Kallis]

Martin Devlin: Just when you thought it was safe ... - Cricket News | TVNZ

Amusing mock letters at the end of the article

[ohnoitsyou]

im sure looking forward to Crowe's next article.

Flynn should be promoted to 3, he only got out because of the Phantom at the other end , and its not as if he would face any less of the new ball at 5

[Briony]

Originally Posted by wellAlbidarned

If you lose the toss as a captain you always claim that you were going to do what you end up doing anyway. So I don't think those words count for much.

Smith said he was undecided. The day before he said he might bat but acknowledged that batting would be tough during the first session.

Also don't see this compulsion to bat first because it shows guts or is the sort of thing you do. If bowling first best utilises whatever weapons you have surely you do it. Can never understand the mentality of batting first because of what might happen on day five yet the day one conditions are such that day five might become irrelevant.

[BeeGee]

Originally Posted by Mike5181

David Leggat: The worst performance I've ever seen - Opinion - NZ Herald News

185 comments already.

Certainly, South Africa's formidably strong, and complementary, quick bowlers, Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel, can, and have, made life difficult for the best batting lineups.

Eight commas in a single sentence. Impressive.

[wellAlbidarned]

Originally Posted by Briony

Smith said he was undecided. The day before he said he might bat but acknowledged that batting would be tough during the first session.

Also don't see this compulsion to bat first because it shows guts or is the sort of thing you do. If bowling first best utilises whatever weapons you have surely you do it. Can never understand the mentality of batting first because of what might happen on day five yet the day one conditions are such that day five might become irrelevant.

RE Smith's comments - I think he was basically sugarcoating the fact that it wouldn't really matter either way. His team is that good and we're that bad.

The bolded is especially true when you're NZ.

[KungFu_Kallis]

Originally Posted by Briony

Also don't see this compulsion to bat first because it shows guts or is the sort of thing you do. If bowling first best utilises whatever weapons you have surely you do it. Can never understand the mentality of batting first because of what might happen on day five yet the day one conditions are such that day five might become irrelevant.

+1

Uncanny how often you hear "a good toss to lose". Because it would be a "bad toss to win" if you had to be "positive" and bat first on a green tinged pitch.