1st Semi Final - New Zealand v South Africa (24th March)

[jonbrooks]

The weather has cleared and forecast is fine for the rest of the day. Eden Park has excellent drainage and the ground will be fairly dry by the time the game starts.

I feel the toss will be crucial. With the overnight rain some of that moisture would have seeped in under the covers and it might have freshened things up a little bit. The winning captain will surely bowl first.

 

[_Ed_]

The sun has just made its first appearance of the day at my place, which is 5km from Eden Park.

Still a lot of clouds about, but I can see some growing patches of blue sky.

 

[jonbrooks]

Don't worry guys, it will be a great day for cricket.

 

[weldone]

or just take two five wicket hauls in the semi final and final. sounds delicious

Mad Eyes Steyn winning it for the Saffers tomorrow would be really cool tbh

O yes, and that will be good for my bet too.

 

[weldone]

100% has not cleared up. Just been up the road and was spitting. Grey as London but without the ****ty accents yeah

 

[James]

With all this rain and cloud around in Auckland to freshen up the pitch, no doubt it's going to be perfect for swing bowling. Perhaps we'll see another 150 plays 150. Hopefully BMac can win the toss.

 

[Chewie]

Very grey with some blue sky poking through (4km from Eden Park)

 

[Blakey]

The suburb or the Saffa cricketer?

 

[Athlai]

Starting to brighten up in Ponsonby.

 

[smash84]

the difference in the polls suggests NZ to be overwhelmingly favorites.

The difference in the quality of the sides doesn't merit such a huge difference in votes

 

[Burgey]

What's it like in Geelong?


Good luck to both sides today. I've enjoyed this WC immensely so far, and the last three games shape up as crackers. I think NZ will get there, but won't be surprised if there's some arse clenching along the way.

 

[jonbrooks]

Damn, starting to cloud over again. We need some sun to dry away the overnight rain.

 

[YorksLanka]

NZ all the way I reckon..they have a wonderfully balanced team..

 

[Moss]

the difference in the polls suggests NZ to be overwhelmingly favorites.

The difference in the quality of the sides doesn't merit such a huge difference in votes

Ha ha..CW is truly that parallel universe (utopia?) where the NZ fan contingent outnumbers and even out-shouts the rest.

 

[Burgey]

the difference in the polls suggests NZ to be overwhelmingly favorites.

The difference in the quality of the sides doesn't merit such a huge difference in votes

Yeah but half the people who think nz will win migh think they'll win very narrowly. Polls are quantitative only

 

[straw man]

Feeling excited and not even nervous, honest. I just can't wait for the game to start.

Has been a fantastic tournament, the NZ team has caught the public's imagination in a way that matches my earliest cricketing memories of the 1992 World Cup, and the whole country is behind the team.

Looking forward to the start where, bat or bowl, we come out and try to destroy SA. It will be fun.

 

[Chewie]

Tons of blue sky now

 

[Howsie]

Damn so many people with New Zealand cricket shirts on in and around the city. Never thought I'd see this kind of support. It'll be hard to beat the Aussie game I witnessed last month but I reckon this game might do it. Get up NZ.

 

[Blakey]

NZ all the way I reckon..they have a wonderfully balanced team..

But they haven't all be on form.

Guptill: worries me. 237 is great but following that up against Saffers will be next level difficult
McCullum: said a while ago that he can now trust his defence which gives him a lot of confidence. Well he's been reckless and hasn't really come off in this world cup. He needs to balance his aggression with blunting the attack
Kane: is in a bit of a funk
Taylor: I'm in no man's land with this guy
Elliot: still have horrors watching him be destroyed by Starc. Most embarrassing dismissal I've ever seen. Bowling - ugh
Anderson: too inexperienced to know how to rotate strike. It’s either go big or go home. Bowling - meh
Ronchi: the right key for me
Vettori: gold
Milne: scratch. But his replacement comes in super cold.
Southee: has been terribly off form lately
Boult: gold, but if you see him off, NZ attack struggles

Doom and gloom and all that but I’m definitely not in the NZ are favourites camp.

I won’t be disappointed if they lose - not really, because the world class players that SA have are incredible and are hitting good form.

 

[Blakey]

Has been a fantastic tournament, the NZ team has caught the public's imagination in a way that matches my earliest cricketing memories of the 1992 World Cup, and the whole country is behind the team.

I remember the 1992 cup really well and one of the great memories were the team shirts.

This time there's no official style - total bummer.