***Official*** New Zealand in South Africa

[NZTailender]

I think Smith will struggle vs Franklin, actually.

 

[Loony BoB]

I take it you haven't seen much of Martin's test career then?

Since I left NZ four years ago, it's very rare that I've seen him play, if at all, on English TV. I can't remember reading any articles on him either. So no, not really...

Also, I didn't say he isn't - just that I've never heard him be called as such.

 

[vic_orthdox]

WRT Smith...

Franklin, Martin and Bond all tend to move the ball away from the left hander. Should be interesting to see how Graeme fares...

 

[Sportsgirl]

New Zealand Cricket is sending two squads to play against international A teams and academy teams in Australia during June and July, as part of the BLACKCAPS preparation for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007.

Both squads will take part in a 10 day preparation camp in Cairns before playing a variety of four-day, one-day and twenty20 matches against India A, Pakistan A, Australia A and academy teams from Australia, South Africa and India.

Team One: Peter Fulton (State Canterbury Wizards; captain), James Marshall (State Northern Knights; vice-captain, Graham Aldridge (State Northern Knights), Brendan Diamanti (State Central Stags), Mark Gillespie (State Wellington Firebirds), Jamie How (State Central Stags), Michael Mason (State Central Stags), Nathan McCullum(State Otago Volts), Peter McGlashan (State Northern Knights), Warren McSkimming (State Otago Volts), Jesse Ryder (State Wellington Firebirds), Ross Taylor (State Central Stags), Lou Vincent (State Auckland Aces)

Staff: Richard Hadlee (manager); Bob Carter (coach); Ashley Ross and Mike Hesson (assistant coaches and video analysis)

Team Two: Craig McMillan (State Canterbury Wizards; captain), Matthew Bell (State Wellington Firebirds; vice-captain), Hamish Bennett(State Canterbury Wizards), Gareth Hopkins(State Otago Volts), Bruce Martin (State Northern Knights), Chris Martin (State Auckland Aces), Kyle Mills (State Auckland Aces), Rob Nicol (State Auckland Aces), Mark Orchard (State Northern Knights), Michael Papps(State Canterbury Wizards), Jeetan Patel (State Wellington Firebirds), Mathew Sinclair(State Central Stags), Richard Sherlock(State Canterbury Wizards)

Staff: Dayle Hadlee (manager), Mark O’Donnell (coach), Vaughn Johnson (assistant coach)

 

[Blaze]

hmm interesting to see Sinclair's name.

 

[Zinzan]

hmm interesting to see Sinclair's name.

Me too. I would have thought he'd tell the selectors to go jump in a lake and that he was going overseas

 

[Sportsgirl]

Why has McMillan been named? Surely there is someone else they could have selected instead of him. Jarrod Englefield, Michael Parlane come to mind.

 

[Zinzan]

Why has McMillan been named? Surely there is someone else they could have selected instead of him. Jarrod Englefield, Michael Parlane come to mind.

Did they specify whether one is considered an "A" team or not, or are they just mixed ?

 

[Sportsgirl]

Here is a link to the article
http://www.nzcricket.co.nz/display.aspx?pri=36&sec=68&cid=4351&provider=1&tpl=0

 

[DanielFullard]

I am really looking forward to this test and infact even when SA were playing Aus I said in the relevant thread that this was a far more intriguing series. SA played great in patches against Aus but terrible in others and given this and the fact that NZ have shown good form lately should make for a great series

 

[luckyeddie]

Chris Martin has hit 2 fours.

Are those career figures?

 

[superkingdave]

Yeah im looking forward to this aswell, don't get to see NZ very often unless they are playing England. Should be a competetive series

 

[TT Boy]

Bond confident of playing in the first test match.

http://www.news24.com/News24/Sport/Cricket/0,,2-9-839_1915725,00.html

 

[Ming]

How did Diamanti get into that side? Thompson must be fuming.

 

[Sportsgirl]

Yes he would have the right to be fuming as he played well for CD this season.

 

[sirjeremy11]

Yes he would have the right to be fuming as he played well for CD this season.

Point. He should be there ahead of Orchard too. And I support ND!

 

[Kippax]

New Zealand Cricket is sending two squads to play against international A teams and academy teams in Australia during June and July, as part of the BLACKCAPS preparation for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007.

Anyone seen Southern Man around lately? I take it James McMillan's injured?

If they're picking Diamanti ahead of McMillan, they really have taken a completely OD-skewed approach to this series. McMillan's not often on the park, but 10 wickets @ 19 and a rep for bowling at 145+ during the FC season should've had him covered.

It's not like chronic absenteeism ruled any golden boys out....did it Sherlock.

 

[SouthernMan]

Right here, gutted for Mac. Looks like they see him as just far to injury prone.

 

[Blaze]

They should have given Todd Astle a crack IMO. And yeah Thompson should be there as well. Who are they kidding with Brendon Diamanti?

 

[Blaze]

Why has McMillan been named? Surely there is someone else they could have selected instead of him. Jarrod Englefield, Michael Parlane come to mind.

Why Michael Parlane? McMillan is younger and has more potential. I still see him as a Test option down the track.