*Official* South Africa A v New Zealand A 2025

[Immenso]

Going by the recent past A tours, I wouldn't expect much from the first ListA which is basically the warm up game.
Well done to Foulkes and Keene with the bat for making it a least a worthwhile day out for most of the 22 on the field.

NZ top order mostly got out to extra bounce, where as Herman feasted on the short ball from NZ's short bowlers.

On the other thread I had reservations about the seamers NZ selected. On a development tour, It would be a perfectly acceptable outcome for Fisher and Foulkes to either a) get found out on bouncy pitch or b) be forced to adapt. But i don't think what we are surrounding them with will help. Lister is at least a normal height, but there is no tall bowler on tour for conditions ideally suited to see how they would perform in.

Not that there is a plethora of tall NZ fast bowlers in this 'A' level tier at the moment. Shipley too soon after comeback? and McKay very raw.

 

[Kippax]

The ease with which Keene got a cut and a pull away against Coetzee was pretty noteworthy.

Someone with a pretty low-ceiling vibe like Dale Phillips opening, a gormless bumpkin like Clarkson at 7, yet Keene's coming in as a No. 9, that'll probably be looked back on as a bit of a joke in the years to come.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Not that there is a plethora of tall NZ fast bowlers in this 'A' level tier at the moment. Shipley too soon after comeback? and McKay very raw.

Ironically Tickner is bowling much better now than when in the Black Caps, but can't get a look in.

 

[Immenso]

Ironically Tickner is bowling much better now than when in the Black Caps, but can't get a look in.

I wasn't advocating for him, I'll be honest. As in I think his time has come and gone from a blackcaps POV.
But, an experienced bowler to help out the youngsters would probably be helpful. As they have with the batsmen. He also happens to be tall.

 

[Kenneth Viljoen]

What's the latest with Kyle Jamieson ?

 

[Immenso]

What's the latest with Kyle Jamieson ?

He's good to go.
He was unavailable for the Zim tour because of birth of his child.

 

[Kippax]

I suppose it's all a bit armsy through the offside? Clearly a bit of a strange player to want marking his guard when you're already 7 down though. NZ remain steadfastly against living a little at A level.

 

[NZTailender]

I wasn't advocating for him, I'll be honest. As in I think his time has come and gone from a blackcaps POV.
But, an experienced bowler to help out the youngsters would probably be helpful. As they have with the batsmen. He also happens to be tall.

I think Tickner in Tests was a bit of a stretch but I wasn't averse to him in T20Is at all. He's not ancient so could still do a job in ODIs too.

 

[ataraxia]

Expending resources and gametime on talented players like Tickner only to not capitalise on it when they actually become good annoys me.

 

[NZTailender]

Expending resources and gametime on talented players like Tickner only to not capitalise on it when they actually become good annoys me.

His numbers in T20Is weren't terrible either. I honestly do think sometimes they try and have players across more formats to save on airline tickets and logistics. Less space for one format specialists unless their form can't be ignored. And Tickner was always there or there abouts rather than #1 bowler on the team sheet, so he suffered for it.

 

[ataraxia]

His numbers in T20Is weren't terrible either. I honestly do think sometimes they try and have players across more formats to save on airline tickets and logistics. Less space for one format specialists unless their form can't be ignored. And Tickner was always there or there abouts rather than #1 bowler on the team sheet, so he suffered for it.

They look pretty terrible to me tbf

 

[Kippax]

I think NZC were understandably surprised by how potent and rapid a bowler O'Rourke became in such a short space of time.

It's funny to think of how CW saw plenty in O'Rourke right from the start. NZ U19 were taking more of Principal Skinner approach, perhaps presciently, seeing the stress fracture has now arrived. "O'Rourke has a goofy idiosyncratic look, Kristian Clarke and Joey Field are actually where it's at".

 

[Kippax]

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Tickner bowled superbly for CD in the Global Super League in Guyana

 

[Kippax]

Yeah I wouldn't be shocked to see a dramatic and inspired run of form from Tickner before he retires. He's been through a living nightmare off the field since April last year.

Black Cap Blair Tickner and wife, Sarah, on cancer journey: ‘Grateful to still be alive’

Blackcap Blair Tickner and wife, Sarah, speak to Hawke’s Bay Today about their cancer journey, ahead of the inaugural Kaweka Hospital Daffodil Day Colour R

www.newstalkzb.co.nz

 

[Kenneth Viljoen]

Another great start from the SA seamers , Since that NZ tour Moreki has really been putting in some good performances , a late bloomer. ..Good to see Sipamla back on the park too ..

Looking forward to see how Tristan Luus bowls here ..

 

[SeamUp]

Another great start from the SA seamers , Since that NZ tour Moreki has really been putting in some good performances , a late bloomer. ..Good to see Sipamla back on the park too ..

Looking forward to see how Tristan Luus bowls here ..

He was so stupid to leave WP and go to the Lions again after really finding more responsibility at WP. At least he has moved back to WP again.

 

[Kippax]

Keene, cutting and pulling the ball like a dream. The best lower-order back-foot player they've put in a NZ shirt since 2002 Scott Styris, probably.

Sorry for the big curse, he'll fall shortly after the drinks break here.

 

[vandem]

Perhaps white ball all-rounder pairing of Keene + Foulkes will do the job that Elliott + Anderson then de Grandhomme + Neesham did in NZ's run to successive World Cup ODI finals ???

 

[Kippax]