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

[Blaze]

Can't believe Martin got shortchanged again by his gloryseeking batting teammates. Often when he looks best set for a 15 or 20, the other batsman takes all chance away with a silly shot. If I was Coldplay Martin, I'd be having some very serious words with the coaches and captain about this perceived injustice. Stand up for yourself, Christopher.

I agree... He looked set for a big score IMO.

 

[sirjeremy11]

Justice done there, Pollock deserved that wicket and Mills didn't deserve to still be there.

Yeah, but to be fair, Fleming was on his way to a career best 289.

 

[Sportsgirl]

Awesome knock from big Jake, if it wasn't for those two standing up I would say we would of been out for 100.

 

[sirjeremy11]

Regarding Vettori's record with the bat...

In his last 28 tests... (since WI in 2002 - see how few tests NZ play, Vettori may have missed two or three in that time?)

(not including the ongoing one of course)...

Runs 1144 HS 137* avg 35.75 2 100's 5 50's
84 wickets - Best 6/28 avg 34.77 5 5 wicket innings

Guess you could officially call him a batting allrounder now.

 

[Goughy]

A real quality day of test cricket.

Oram's innings was special. Given the circumstances (despite a few false shots) it was probably one of the best innings of the summer.

One ball from Ntini left me thinking "how do you bowl to this guy?" Just short of a good length, just hitting or going over off stump and before you know it its hitting the boundary fence after a square drive. Very impressive.

Another interesting days play set up for tomorrow. Lets see if they can use the new ball effectively.

 

[Goughy]

I thought Steyn was awful.

Its going to be hard for him to be a success at test level. He has been elevated quickly due to the lack of decent fast bowlers in SA and the fact that he can bowl 145+.

However, he is nowhere near ready and may never be.

His biggest problem is his lack of height. He is lucky enough to swing the ball at good pace (good but not great) but due to his lack of height his margin for error is tiny and if he over pitches he becomes cannon fodder.

As smaller bowlers have to drop the short ball shorter than taller guys, a batsman can pick the length early and move onto the front foot swiftly, waiting for the overpitched ball.

Also his control is sorely lacking and this stops him being able to build pressure that forces the batsman into mistakes.

He looks good on paper. 145+, outswingers and ability to bowl wicket taking balls but there are too many holes that will prevent him from being a dominant cricketer at this level.

 

[marc71178]

It looked pretty dire at 45/5...

But don't forget that SA are an infinitely better side

 

[sirjeremy11]

Always appreciate what the professionals (or people with their livelihoods on it) think about where cricket tests are going...

TAB NZ

SA $1.80
NZ $2.70
Draw $5.50

 

[Zinzan]

Always appreciate what the professionals (or people with their livelihoods on it) think about where cricket tests are going...

TAB NZ

SA $1.80
NZ $2.70
Draw $5.50

Wow is this the odds after Day 2 or from the beginning of the test ???

 

[Blaze]

That will be because
a) we have never won a Test series over there
b) we don't have Shane Bond and South Africa aren't likely to bat as poorly as they did in the first innings
c) we have to bat last, and our top order looked awful.

 

[marc71178]

Right...

Is he in the side for his bowling or batting?

His batting is of far more use to the side than his bowling at the moment.

Last 10 Tests (including this one but removing Zimbabwe):

470 runs @ 39.17, 24 wickets @ 44.

That's certainly not the returns of a specialist bowler.

 

[marc71178]

Regarding Vettori's record with the bat...

In his last 28 tests... (since WI in 2002 - see how few tests NZ play, Vettori may have missed two or three in that time?)

(not including the ongoing one of course)...

Runs 1144 HS 137* avg 35.75 2 100's 5 50's
84 wickets - Best 6/28 avg 34.77 5 5 wicket innings

Guess you could officially call him a batting allrounder now.

Even those figures are extremely misleading because of Ban/Zim (4 games)

Remove those games and we have: 946 runs @ 32.62, 53 wickets @ 48.04.

 

[Third Leg]

It depends on the conditions - at home, where conditions are more suited to seam bowling, Vettori will make more of an impact with the bat, and with the ball bowls as a defensive option. Overseas, in favourable spin conditions, he is still a world class attacking bowler.

The mark of a true all-rounder - makes contributions with the bat and ball, depending on the conditions.

His last 10 tests away from home:

50 wickets at 25.08. Not bad for a spinner.

 

[Third Leg]

Not sure how to do this, but can anyone do the filters for his last 10 matches away from home, excluding Zim and Bang?

 

[marc71178]

Not sure how to do this, but can anyone do the filters for his last 10 matches away from home, excluding Zim and Bang?

You have to remove them manually (in excel or something) I believe.

 

[Third Leg]

Might be easier to get a calculator and work it out myself.

 

[marc71178]

It depends on the conditions - at home, where conditions are more suited to seam bowling, Vettori will make more of an impact with the bat, and with the ball bowls as a defensive option. Overseas, in favourable spin conditions, he is still a world class attacking bowler.

That sounds exactly like another SLA bowler in International Cricket...

 

[Jono]

Very entertaining watch.

I thought Steyn was awful.

Everytime I've seen him he always is. The thing that worries me is his lack of improvement (in terms of accuracy and his no-ball problem) in almost 12-18 months. That's a pretty poor indictment on the bowling coaching in SA at the moment.

 

[Jono]

Always appreciate what the professionals (or people with their livelihoods on it) think about where cricket tests are going...

TAB NZ

SA $1.80
NZ $2.70
Draw $5.50

I'm assuming that was after day 2.

After day 1 NZ were about $3 and I was very very tempted in chucking $20-30 on them. But the reason why I didn't is probably the same reason why I think NZ's odds are so high. I just don't trust their batting enough, and if SA were to get a lead of 250-270, it'd be tough for NZ.

I'm hoping NZ take out this test though.

 

[Sir Redman]

Brilliant innings' from Oram and Vettori. Got home from work just after 10, checked the score and choked - I believe the sound I made was something in the order of "geuuurghh" followed by a series of obscenities about Bracewell's selection policies and our top order.

I thought that Smith's captaincy was pretty average at times. He didn't mix his bowlers well at all, I think that he expected us to just fold for 100 and so kept guys like Steyn on when he was getting pummeled. When Boje came on he created a chance almost immediately when Oram tried to clear mid-on. A few balls later, Vettori got a big inside edge trying to play the same shot, and then Oram did the same. For some reason though, Smith then put mid-on back on the boundary which took the pressure right off.