**Official** South Africa in New Zealand

[James]

Tue Oct 21 (50 ovs)
1st ODI - New Zealand v South Africa
Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui


Fri Oct 24 (50 ovs)
2nd ODI - New Zealand v South Africa
Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui


Mon Oct 27 (50 ovs)
3rd ODI - New Zealand v South Africa
Seddon Park, Hamilton

 

[Hurricane]

If injuries don't ruin it this series should tell us who will challenge Australia for the World Cup.

 

[hendrix]

Questions for NZ:

1. Can Neesham open?

2. Can Latham open and/or cover first change in the event of a Williamson injury?

3. Can Brownlie do the same?

4. Will Guptill return to form?

5. Is Vettori up to it?

6. Can Anderson and Neesham show enough control in the middle overs or will picking 2 spinners and a specialist batsman be a better option?

7. Who are the 3 best pace bowlers?

 

[Bahnz]

My expectations:
1) No; 2) He can open/ bat at 3 to a reasonable standard, but the batting will be substantially weakened; 3) ditto; 4) Yes; 5) Yes; 6) Anderson will be able to do a reasonable job some of the time but Neesham will struggle; 7) Southee, Mills and Henry are the three best, but working in conjunction they'd be too samey, so Mills and Southee with McC rounding things out.

 

[Athlai]

I'm with Bahnzy but I quite like Bennett as 3rd bowler assuming he isn't broken again.

 

[Days of Grace]

Interested to see how Boult goes.

Vettori has to prove to be a much better wicket taker than NMac, otherwise NMac's fielding and power hitting wins the day.

 

[ohnoitsyou]

NMac for specialist #8 imo

 

[Hurricane]

Interested to see how Boult goes.

Vettori has to prove to be a much better wicket taker than NMac, otherwise NMac's fielding and power hitting wins the day.

Good post - Dan's batting has gone downhill and he fielding is now feeble given he is older.

Still that dismissal last year of Jayawardene still sticks in the mind.

 

[Days of Grace]

So, what are we looking at?

Neesham
Guptill
Latham
Brownlee
McCullum (c)
Anderson
Ronchi (wk)
Vettori
Southee
Mills
Boult

Henry
McClenaghan
NcCullum


That top 5 looks a bit yuck.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Was excited because I thought these were tests

 

[ohnoitsyou]

Given this squad, McCullum needs to be higher up the order, but in respect to world cup preperation 5 is where he needs to be at.

 

[hendrix]

I'm not really convinced about Brownlie either opening or batting 4.

 

[hendrix]

It will be nice to see Neesham and Latham batting against a high quality attack. They're both pretty raw but have the talent. They're also pretty decent against spin so if either of them get through to the middle overs there's runs on offer. A little less dependency on Williamson through overs 15-35 would be a good thing.

 

[Dan]

Yeah, in terms of development seeing Neesham and Latham in the top order is a really good option, imo.

 

[Kippax]

Except Latham will be at 5, apparently.

News from Brendon McCullum's presser - @JimmyNeesh will open, @deanbrownlie at 3, McCullum at 4, @Tomlatham2 at 5 in 1st ODI

Tim Southee will sit out 1st ODI, along with Kane Williamson. Kane bowled a few left-armers in the nets, intrigue fans

 

[Blain]

Brownlie.. I guess we don't have much else do we. Seems to be known as a guy who can play pace well, will be interesting.

Weather forecast is looking OK, a bit cloudy and 18 degrees.

 

[hendrix]

Hmmm...I guess we'll just have to let this play out.

 

[Kippax]

Standard maccas stop in Drury on the way south to Tauranga. Thanks Hyundai for the sweet Santa Fe. Next stop, Bay Oval.

Alternative Comntry Collective - Alternative One Day Cricket Commentaries | Listen Live | iHeartRadio

 

[Kippax]

There you go Cribbage. $8.00 for a confirmed No. 3. Unfortunately it's Brownlie.

 

[hendrix]

15 for neesh is bloody good value. wouldn't mind Ronchi either in what could be a low total.