**Official** New Zealand in South Africa

[James]

Tue Dec 18
South African Invitation XI v New Zealanders
City Oval, Pietermaritzburg

Fri Dec 21
1st T20I - South Africa v New Zealand
Kingsmead, Durban

Sun Dec 23
2nd T20I - South Africa v New Zealand
Buffalo Park, East London

Wed Dec 26
3rd T20I - South Africa v New Zealand
St George's Park, Port Elizabeth

Fri Dec 28 - Sun Dec 30
South African Invitation XI v New Zealanders
Boland Park, Paarl

Wed Jan 2 - Sun Jan 6
1st Test - South Africa v New Zealand
Newlands, Cape Town

Fri Jan 11 - Tue Jan 15
2nd Test - South Africa v New Zealand
St George's Park, Port Elizabeth

Sat Jan 19
1st ODI - South Africa v New Zealand
Boland Park, Paarl

Tue Jan 22
2nd ODI - South Africa v New Zealand
De Beers Diamond Oval, Kimberley

Fri Jan 25
3rd ODI - South Africa v New Zealand
Senwes Park, Potchefstroom

[DIRK-NANNES]

bring back ross

[Flem274*]

Squadz

20/20

Brendon McCullum (c): Otago Volts
Corey Anderson: Northern Knights
Trent Boult: Northern Knights
Doug Bracewell: Central Stags
Derek de Boorder: Otago Volts
James Franklin: Wellington Firebirds
Peter Fulton: Canterbury Wizards
Martin Guptill: Auckland Aces
Ronnie Hira: Canterbury Wizards
Nathan McCullum: Otago Volts
Mitchell McClenaghan: Auckland Aces
Adam Milne: Central Stags
Colin Munro: Auckland Aces
Jimmy Neesham: Otago Volts
Rob Nicol: Canterbury Wizards

Tests

Brendon McCullum (c): Otago Volts
Trent Boult: Northern Knights
Doug Bracewell: Central Stags
Dean Brownlie: Canterbury Wizards
Daniel Flynn: Northern Knights
James Franklin: Wellington Firebirds
Peter Fulton: Canterbury Wizards
Martin Guptill: Auckland Aces
Chris Martin: Auckland Aces
Bruce Martin: Auckland Aces
Jeetan Patel: Wellington Firebirds
Kane Williamson: Northern Knights
Tim Southee: Northern Knights
Neil Wagner: Otago Volts
BJ Watling: Northern Knights

They're a bit ****ed itbt. Can bowl, not sure who will score the runs.

[Viscount Tom]

Squadz

20/20

Brendon McCullum (c): Otago Volts
Corey Anderson: Northern Knights
Trent Boult: Northern Knights
Doug Bracewell: Central Stags
Derek de Boorder: Otago Volts
James Franklin: Wellington Firebirds
Peter Fulton: Canterbury Wizards
Martin Guptill: Auckland Aces
Ronnie Hira: Canterbury Wizards
Nathan McCullum: Otago Volts
Mitchell McClenaghan: Auckland Aces
Adam Milne: Central Stags
Colin Munro: Auckland Aces
Jimmy Neesham: Otago Volts
Rob Nicol: Canterbury Wizards

Tests

Brendon McCullum (c): Otago Volts
Trent Boult: Northern Knights
Doug Bracewell: Central Stags
Dean Brownlie: Canterbury Wizards
Daniel Flynn: Northern Knights
James Franklin: Wellington Firebirds
Peter Fulton: Canterbury Wizards
Martin Guptill: Auckland Aces
Chris Martin: Auckland Aces
Bruce Martin: Auckland Aces
Jeetan Patel: Wellington Firebirds
Kane Williamson: Northern Knights
Tim Southee: Northern Knights
Neil Wagner: Otago Volts
BJ Watling: Northern Knights

They're a bit ****ed itbt. Can bowl, not sure who will score the runs.

Southoe and Boult maybe Kane Bradman

[BackFootPunch]

So we're backing a bunch of largely untested young blokes (even at domestic level itbt) to score our middle order runs in the T20s. In South Africa. That's interesting.

[Flem274*]

So we're backing a bunch of largely untested young blokes (even at domestic level itbt) to score our middle order runs in the T20s. In South Africa. That's interesting.

I think they're not sure who they want their ODI allrounder to be so they're going to put them in the hot seat and see who swims.

[straw man]

Poor bastards

[Flem274*]

Tim Southee and Jacob Oram were not considered for T20 selection due to the pending birth of their children

itstl. Never knew Southee was going to be a dad. If that's not a typo, all the best to him.

[Mike5181]

So we're backing a bunch of largely untested young blokes (even at domestic level itbt) to score our middle order runs in the T20s. In South Africa. That's interesting.

I think they're not sure who they want their ODI allrounder to be so they're going to put them in the hot seat and see who swims.

I don't mind the young guys being tested tbh. We will learn more from them playing against South Africa than our domestic bowlers, even if it is just T20.

[BackFootPunch]

I guess another way of looking at this is that maybe Hesson is really keen to stamp his own mark on this team and is prepared to sacrifice some results for it in the short term. Obviously he screwed up with the way the Taylor thing has gone but these teams have players who we all expected to make it eventually, even if not this soon.

We know Taylor will come back to the team eventually, so here's a chance to find our long term no 5 out of Brownlie, Flynn, Franko, Fulton etc.

As Phlegm said, we need an ODI all rounder so let's so who goes best out of Anderson, Neesh and Munro.

The selection of de Boorder, which seems pretty unjustified based on his T20 record, indicates he's a player they like the look of so here's a chance for him to prove himself.

[Blain]

Oram didint play CDs last game for personal reasons of some sort, sounds like he isnt going to play tonight because he is a bit under the weather, and isnt going to SA cos of a birth. Sounds like he on an extended paid holiday to me.

JUST RETIRE MAN!!

god I have no faith in NZ Cricket anymore, and I'm the one who sticks up for them.

[jcas0167]

Very exciting T20 squad - Anderson has looked likely ever since he arrived on the scene as a 16 year old, but has been hampered by injuries. I think he could become a superstar. Munro deserves a go after big hitting exploits in T20 and outstanding FC form. Neesham seems to have developed really well since moving to Otago for more opportunities.

I didn't realise Derek de Boorder was so close for T20. I knew he was highly rated for his glovework, and managed a six off the first ball he faced to win a game last season.

HRV Cup 2011-12: de Boorder last-ball six gives Otago thriller | HRV Cup 2011-12 Report | Cricket News | ESPN Cricinfo

[Spikey]

itstl. Never knew Southee was going to be a dad. If that's not a typo, all the best to him.

Tim Southee and Jacob Oram were not considered for T20 selection due to the pending birth of their children

twins! oram the mother i suppose?

[ohnoitsyou]

Warm up games!!!! We might actually have a chance. Oh thats right.

I can see whats going to happen here, Watling is going to bat 6 and Franklin at 7.
If we had Jesse, we would have enough part time bowling to be able to manage only 4 bowlers, meaning we could play 7 batters. Sadly doesn't look like that will ever happen and any possible test standard all-rounder needs a couple more years of development.

DeBorder and/or Ronchi ( i know everyone hates him, but we need the strongest batting line up we can get without the captain) needs to be in Test Team, and Latham needs to be in the LO sides, he has the shots to succeed as a lower order batsmen so needs to be given more chances.

The T20 team looks stronger, but really lacks players with match-winning potential, i dont see anyone except McCullum going big. We also lack economical bowlers, imo we need to develop a seperate bowling unit for this format, as over the long term T20 will ruin bowlers lines and lengths.

just my 2 cents.

[flibbertyjibber]

Things are bad when you recall two metre Peter. Good to see Watling back, like the look of him but you fear for NZ in this series against a very very good SA side.