NZ v SAF
"We're fresh" says Stephen Fleming. "We're extremely fresh".
Kiwi translation:
"We're rusty. We're fkn rusty"
The two lopsided matches of the last two nights (trading nightmare - results decided in the first 10 overs) have shown despite the pitches (well the one in Jaipur anyway), coming into an international cricket tournament "fresh" is not exactly an ideal scenario if you're a batsmen. England looked like they hadn't played for a year while the West Indies were undone by an extremely low and slow Mumbai pitch.
And NZ v SAF is in Mumbai. I pray to god South Africa bat first as out of the two sides, New Zealand has the potential to follow the trend and be not much for 3 or 4 down after a few overs.
I have two contrasting theories about tonight's match. One - the WI were done by bowlers keeping the ball straight on a bad pitch and if you miss and the ball hits your pads - bye bye. NZ batsmen have had trouble with Ntini's pace before and if he keeps the ball wicket to wicket the same thing will happen, while we don't have to discuss Pollock's accuracy. These two do have the potential to rip through NZ's top order.
Two - NZ bowlers aren't exactly useless on a low and slow pitch. But the trouble at their pace is if they're off line they may find themselves carted to the fence. Still, the likes of Astle, Styris (if he plays) and Vettori can put the ball on a spot more often than not. Will NZ miss Bond (sore back in case you haven't heard)? Probably, but on this pitch he may not have been effective anyway.
So it all points to another low-scoring affair (now watch them prove me wrong in a 300 v 300 game). The subconcious tells me SAF will win but NZ's best chance is batting second chasing a mediocre total.
P.S. To my Australian readers: OK, we lost the rugby league but we won the punch-up and the hit on Willie Mason was worth the 12-point loss.
Kiwi translation:
"We're rusty. We're fkn rusty"
The two lopsided matches of the last two nights (trading nightmare - results decided in the first 10 overs) have shown despite the pitches (well the one in Jaipur anyway), coming into an international cricket tournament "fresh" is not exactly an ideal scenario if you're a batsmen. England looked like they hadn't played for a year while the West Indies were undone by an extremely low and slow Mumbai pitch.
And NZ v SAF is in Mumbai. I pray to god South Africa bat first as out of the two sides, New Zealand has the potential to follow the trend and be not much for 3 or 4 down after a few overs.
I have two contrasting theories about tonight's match. One - the WI were done by bowlers keeping the ball straight on a bad pitch and if you miss and the ball hits your pads - bye bye. NZ batsmen have had trouble with Ntini's pace before and if he keeps the ball wicket to wicket the same thing will happen, while we don't have to discuss Pollock's accuracy. These two do have the potential to rip through NZ's top order.
Two - NZ bowlers aren't exactly useless on a low and slow pitch. But the trouble at their pace is if they're off line they may find themselves carted to the fence. Still, the likes of Astle, Styris (if he plays) and Vettori can put the ball on a spot more often than not. Will NZ miss Bond (sore back in case you haven't heard)? Probably, but on this pitch he may not have been effective anyway.
So it all points to another low-scoring affair (now watch them prove me wrong in a 300 v 300 game). The subconcious tells me SAF will win but NZ's best chance is batting second chasing a mediocre total.
P.S. To my Australian readers: OK, we lost the rugby league but we won the punch-up and the hit on Willie Mason was worth the 12-point loss.
Labels: cricket
posted by Rob Crawford at 11:49 AM
2 Comments:
Lets hope we can bowl line and length without Bond. Latest on the mason/haka story from the Kiwiherald Willie: I Was Trying To Sing Along
This Champions Trophy's going to be a bundle of laughs here!!
Sportsfreak still says the 4 semi-finalists will be Aus, Ind, Sri Lanka and NZ.
Guys like Ntini don't go well in India. Shame that Boje cheat's too scared to go there.
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