New Zealand v South Africa (2 Tests)

[Maybe Tomorrow]

A huge batting failure would be way worse for SA IMO because the conditions really aren’t tough, the likes of Henry and Santner aren’t world beaters - Jamieson and Southee are legitimately decent yes - and the side SA has picked DOES contain some hardened FC veterans with the bat as well as a guy like Petersen with some test pedigree.

30/3 after 15 overs. Not a great start.

 

[icyflakes]

That's a bad drop, assuming the sun played the main part.

 

[Santana]

Really? That’s your response to this? That’s fairly harsh.

All I see is a side shorn of basically probably its best 10-12 bowlers at least, keeping what is at WORST, a good-to-very-good batting line up on home turf to a pretty regularly seen first innings score

This isn’t 3-550 declared. A few minutes ago it was 8-470 and for the first four and a half sessions it was a real slog getting there and for the two guys who scored all the runs, there were chances and edges a lot of the way through it.

Cricket fans are very quick to remove ANY context from what they are watching.

Probably a bit harsh on the players but this is an utterly embarrassing cluster f*ck from the CSA. I get their money worries but boy did they sh*t the bed on this one.

 

[madjoe]

Probably a bit harsh on the players but this is an utterly embarrassing cluster f*ck from the CSA. I get their money worries but boy did they sh*t the bed on this one.

Looking at the crowds in the 20/20 , losing players to england till the law changed, player quota, i don't think CSA cares one bit. only has ever been about money. a bit like WI..

not sure this is a great warm up for the aussie tour. facing 125km out swing and getting wickets each spell.

 

[Maybe Tomorrow]

 

[yabsy]

This test is going the way most people would have predicted, it should be a comfortable win for the Black Caps.

To follow on or not? I wouldn't mind NZ bat again to stretch the match out...I'm sure the crowd would appreciate a 4th day

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[PhatBoy]

To follow on or not? I wouldn't mind NZ bat again to stretch the match out...I'm sure the crowd would appreciate a 4th day

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I would enforce it.

What do they gain both within the match and from a perspective of looking towards the Australian series from batting again?

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Hamza and Fortuin

 

[PhatBoy]

It would give them some more batting practice and Conway could do with getting a good score to regain sone form and confidence.

Whether they enforce the follow on or not it won't make much difference to the result, it should be an easy win for NZ either way.

The result is immaterial.

I don’t see anyone profiting from this decision

 

[Marmozet]

Why bat again???

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

Didn’t enforce follow on being 350 ahead.

Gold.

 

[PhatBoy]

Follow ons very rarely get enforced these days so it shouldn't be that much of a surprise that NZ are batting again.

So?

It’s utterly pointless.

Batsmen batting under no pressure, against a bowling attack bereft of anything to bowl for, in benign conditions, with no hope of turning the result around. It’s a glorified net against an attack who know that they are all going to be replaced when the first choice SA line up are back.

If they bowl, they actually do it against a batting line up who are determined to try and force their way into what is an unknown SA top 6. Two of these batsmen are probably already IN an SA first choice batting squad anyway and some of the others have a chance to earn a spot.

 

[Kyptastic]

There's still 2 and a half days and they still have three more tests coming up in the next month. Giving the bowlers a rest is probably a reasonable consideration

 

[PhatBoy]

There's still 2 and a half days and they still have three more tests coming up in the next month. Giving the bowlers a rest is probably a reasonable consideration

I get the rest part, I do: but you want to test them as well


There is a legitimate chance that they go into the Australia series with nothing but 4 very brief innings against SA and a few domestic matches or white ball games under their belt while Australia’s bowlers come in after 5 legitimately hard fought bowling efforts across the summer with a nice freshen up.

 

[The 747]

NZ in trouble at 1/25

 

[Maybe Tomorrow]

So?

It’s utterly pointless.

Batsmen batting under no pressure, against a bowling attack bereft of anything to bowl for, in benign conditions, with no hope of turning the result around. It’s a glorified net against an attack who know that they are all going to be replaced when the first choice SA line up are back.

If they bowl, they actually do it against a batting line up who are determined to try and force their way into what is an unknown SA top 6. Two of these batsmen are probably already IN an SA first choice batting squad anyway and some of the others have a chance to earn a spot.

If I was a cynic I'd say it's to extend the game as long as possible. More TV coverage and another day with crowd in the ground.

 

[PhatBoy]

If I was a cynic I'd say it's to extend the game as long as possible. More TV coverage and another day with crowd in the ground.

It’s possible but they’ve sold out from what I’ve heard the first 3 days of both tests against the Aussies so the interest in that series is huge so anything really from this series is just surplus

I dunno I guess if it was the Windies I’d probably want them to pile on the pain in the rare instance they got the chance to do it but I think it’s just silly cricket. Not gutless or anything - I don’t think there’s any element of ‘putting the game beyond reach’ as it clearly already is, but it’s just not doing anything

 

[Maybe Tomorrow]

It’s possible but they’ve sold out from what I’ve heard the first 3 days of both tests against the Aussies so the interest in that series is huge so anything really from this series is just surplus

I dunno I guess if it was the Windies I’d probably want them to pile on the pain in the rare instance they got the chance to do it but I think it’s just silly cricket. Not gutless or anything - I don’t think there’s any element of ‘putting the game beyond reach’ as it clearly already is, but it’s just not doing anything

As Plugger mentioned above, it does seem to be a trend these days to not enforce it.

Probably some sports scientist somewhere says it's better to let the bowlers rest, so they do.

 

[Jamurp]

Wonder how long NZ will bat for here, could be a ridiculous target set for SA.

 

[yabsy]

I would enforce it.

What do they gain both within the match and from a perspective of looking towards the Australian series from batting again?

Match practice? And there is 4 instead of the minimum 3 days scheduled between the 2 tests.

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[010203]

Neil Brandt's use of DRS has been abysmal.

 

[yabsy]

Now 6 hundreds in the last 10 innings

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[Freezin]

Who bats on for a score of 600 to chase, against a side that is obviously understrength with your A bowling attack raring to go?

Good to see Sugar fill his boots with another ton.....though dumbstruck Latham hasn't filled his boots against a mediocre attack, like he usually does......but hey still another test to play.

 

[Maybe Tomorrow]

A lead of 528 for NZ at stumps, they could declare overnight and still have enough runs but they will probably bat on to get the lead to 600.

I'd say they will declare overnight

 

[Sea fog]

Williamson has cashed in big time here against a virtual 2nd XI.