3rd Test: New Zealand v South Africa at Hamilton on Mar 25-29, 2017

[TheParraboy]

Looks like its gonna be a turning deck

Any chance kiwis leveling the series?

 

[vvvrulz]

Not with our batting, Williamson and Raval have been handed too much to do.

We're missing a trick by not throwing Guptill in, yeah he's been awful for ages but he's still no worse than most of our line-up. He'd go ok in the middle order I reckon, away from that shiny new ball.

 

[JJ]

Guptill's out with the hammy - but I disagree, he just hasn't shown the ability to open in tests, or bat down the order - like Warner he's great on flat decks etc, so sure play him in tests in Australia, maybe some wickets in RSA but he's not good against the new ball nor spin

 

[Iafeta]

Yeah... about that, Guptill isn't available. He's injured.

I think this season has absolutely hammered home the point seemingly taken for granted by some that Ross Taylor is a lynchpin of New Zealand Cricket.

 

[vvvrulz]

Oh right my bad.

I don't think we've actually tried Guptill in the middle order though?

 

[Iafeta]

I think he's had 4 or so tests there. Most against the Bangas and I think he got 180 odd in one of them and I distinctly remember a horror double failure in England.

 

[vvvrulz]

Just had a look, yep that bangers 189 at 5, couple of 50s there too one against Aussie.
3 innings at 4th and 6th, all failures. All of this was 2010 or 2013.

Worth another go I'd say.

 

[JJ]

Needs to bat there at first class level I'd say. For better or worse Nicholls has locked down the 5 spot for a bit, I still like Neesham at 6

Williamson is the lynchpin imo, what we've seen in this series and the Australian one in particular is that when Taylor isn't there the opposition attack can literally devote all their resources to Williamson - made worse at the moment by Latham who ensures Williamson is out there very early, and he's getting the treatment

But with Wlliamson and Taylor we have a pretty decent punch at 3-4, especially if the openers can get us a start

 

[JJ]

Both Boult and Southee ruled out - we're in a world of hurt - Kuggeleijn called in http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11824538

 

[Twizzle]

might have to get Paddles to suit up

 

[Iafeta]

Scott CougarLine into the team. All I can say is thank God it's forecast to rain for practically the entire test.

 

[TheParraboy]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/new-zealand-v-south-africa-2016-17/content/story/1088228.html

DeKock has tendon damage to his index finger, will take 4 weeks minimum to recover from. But has been cleared to play in this test. (ruled out of the IPL)

Could be interesting with his keeping if it somehow gets worse throughout the game

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

Henry and De GrandPlod. Not since Akram and Younis has there been such a devastating opening bowling combination.

South Africa 5/2

Watch Amla find form now.

Oh, and Williamson must be the worst tosser in the history of tossing.

 

[_snafu_]

Waste of a DRS by NZ.

 

[_snafu_]

That is an awful looking square.

 

[Iafeta]

NZs ability with DRS is easily the worst in the world. Williamson and Watling are completely clueless muppets with it.

That said, Duminy loves throwing his wicket away. Just like that...

 

[Twizzle]

cant be worse then Vrat

 

[Iafeta]

Got to agree 28954378543% with Simon Doull. Kane loves to bowl his quicks into the ground. Hell of a lot of overs in session one for CDG and Henry. Can't help feel Southee and Boult are suffering from these murderous spell lengths.

 

[AlwaysGreen]

They beat us soundly but this south African batting lineup is mediocre.
Elgar is a battler and comes good now and then.
Cook is a good first class cricketer but not a test player
Amla is class but ironically hasn't been in form when they've done well.
Duminy is a plodder. He can thank his ancestry for his long career
Faf. Competent.
Bavuma is a good player but hardly a world beater
De kock. Best keeper batsmen in the world by far.

They're now number 2 in the world.

 

[Iafeta]

Put AB De Villiers back in and it's a different story though. And they bat quite deep down their order. Their bowling though is exceptional.