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Mark Gillespie the flanker
By Will 3 years ago, mid-November, 1 Comment »
Mark Gillespie, the New Zealand fast bowler, made his debut yesterday and had his first bowl today. He did pretty well, too, until Jacques Kallis went berserk (what a knock that was). Much quicker than he appears – and he is built like an All Black. Massive bloke who wouldn’t look out of place with a No.8 on his back No.6 or No.7 on his back.
We’re seeing a new, brilliant side to Kallis. I’ve never been his biggest fan but the last two innings (186 at Johannesburg, 131 today at Centurion) have been dazzling. Today was the Kallis of 10 years ago; technically perfect but flamboyant and cavalier. The bowling was embarrassingly meagre, but 12 months ago I doubt Kallis would have attacked with such verve. A top knock.
1 Comment »The wilting New Zealanders
By Will 3 years ago, mid-November, 5 Comments »
What a tour New Zealand are having. Hammered in the first Test, after which their changing room resembled a hospital waiting room. And now today, when they plummeted from 84 for 1 to 187 for 8 and, in the process, have almost certainly lost Craig Cumming (right: Dale Steyn broke his cheekbone) for the remainder of the match.
The pitch was a beast, the fast bowling even beastlier. When Daniel Vettori won the toss and chose to bat, it reminded me of Mike Atherton’s tenure when winning the toss mattered so little. Either England were rolled over in a couple of sessions, or their bowlers would concede 350 in a day for a couple of strangled wickets. They were hopeless and hapless, much as New Zealand now are.
But here’s a stat: in the past two years, New Zealand have played eight Tests. Eight. South Africa on the other hand have notched 19. What on earth is going on? Are New Zealand a Test-playing nation or not? The very fact they can field an international side is remarkable enough, given that they such a tiny pool of players to choose from. But if they don’t play Tests, how can they expect to compete? The only man to cope with Steyn’s pace, and the pitch’s vagaries, was Stephen Fleming who has strode out 105 times for his country.
It’s a shame for New Zealand but also for South Africa’s fans. Who wants to see them roll a side over this easily, this meekly? The matches are sparsely attended and who can blame them?
If you have any thoughts on the series, let me know.
5 Comments »Notes from the pavilion for October 22nd
By Will 3 years ago, at the end of October, No Comments; be the first!
Links of note from the past 24 hours:
- Gatting’s MCC beat Cyprus…just – Mike’s actually getting <i>rounder</i>
- ‘We will have to play well to come out on top’ – So <i>that’s</i> how you win, John
- Why cricket? – New Zealand cricket | NZHistory – Some interesting notes on the history of New Zealand cricket, while doing a “brief history” of England and NZ for Cricinfo. ‘I tell the boys in summertime to play at cricket and play well, that those who are the best cricketers most likely will be the bes
Jon Lewis and Sajid Mahmood called up
By Will 4 years ago, at the start of May, 4 Comments »
So then, Sajid Mahmood and Jon Lewis (hereafter known only as Never Knowingly) are in the squad for the first Test against Sri Lanka, as is Alastair Cook. The only curious announcement from David Graveney was the confirmation of Cook to bat at No. 3 in place of Ian Bell. Graveney will deny speculation that Bell is living on borrowed time – after all, he did have a pretty good winter – but this surely does ring warning bells (sorry) for him.
It does show the strength in depth in our batting, though. Cook is so ridiculously gifted – he’s hardly out of nappies, either – and it’s quite some ask to be asked to bat in such a pivotal position so early in your career. I suppose also it sends a message of arrogance to Sri Lanka; yep, he’s young and inexperienced but we think he’s good enough to play there against you lot.
Either way…an interesting choice on a day where little else of interest happened. South Africa nearly did what only they seem able to do these days: cock up spectacularly. But they didn’t and, in all fairness, deserved to win the Test. Their 2-0 series victory is a little generous though and, despite their rollicking three-day win today, they are very much a team in transition with some old pack-leaders in decline.
4 Comments »Paging Kiwis in Joh’burg
By Scott 4 years ago, at the start of May, 5 Comments »
We have a damsel in distress, it seems, going by a comment.
Don’t know if you can help or not but I’m in Jo’burg for work and – happy, happy coincidence – have the weekend off so am planning on heading to the Test. Am happy in my own company (though does make me feel like a bit of a Nigel) but thought I’d try and find other Kiwis heading along to the game. Any chance you can help me out?
Cheers,
Tennille
If you want to take Tennille out, leave a comment or email your details to me at swickstein at gmail.com. I personally think she should get in touch with these guys, but I can understand wanting slightly less raucous company.
5 Comments »Stephen Fleming Double Century Tribute Post and Open thread
By Scott 4 years ago, at the end of April, 4 Comments »
The difficult-to-please types at Cricinfo clearly don’t care much for the artistry of Stephen Fleming, but I was well pleased to wake up to find that he had smited the South Africans. And if James Franklin can finish off his century this morning, that will be even better.
Rejoice in the suffering of South African cricket here, or South African fans are free to remonstrate. However, any complaints about the wrong-headedness of this post will be thoroughly ignored.
4 Comments »Help us. We’re bleeding boredom
By Will 4 years ago, at the end of April, 8 Comments »
Jolly splendid teams though they are, me and my boss are absolutely suicidally bored watching South Africa against New Zealand. We would welcome any amusing tales, jokes, limericks. I’ve resorted to whistling Rolf Harris tunes (I only know one), and mumbling nonsense. To make matters worse, the bloody clouds have lifted here in London and it’s horribly blue and sunny outside. How dare it be so inviting.
Help us.
8 Comments »Did I miss something? I certainly did!
By Scott 4 years ago, at the end of April, 2 Comments »
Sorry to the masses of readers reader who wanted an open thread about the South Africa vs New Zealand Test in Cape Town, which started last night. I’m not as overworked as Will is, although I am quite frankly appallingly underpaid. I’m considering holding out posting until Will doubles my salary to be honest. The writers united will never be defeated, we’ll just hold out for the draw.
 Anyway, Stephen Fleming got a century last night, which is a rare or special moment for him. I can’t think of a finer batsman in world cricket who is SO bad at converting good starts into centuries. So I really hope he goes on with it. His innings held together New Zealand’s innings on the opening day after South Africa won the toss and sent them in. New Zealand are 265 for 6, and if Fleming and the tail can nurdle out another 100 runs, they will be well set for this Test match.
 Neil Manthrope discusses the schedule. I want you, dear readers, to discuss New Zealand’s chances of getting to 400, and what a fair salary for me is. Should I hold out for groupies?
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2 Comments »South Africa vs New Zealand, last day
By Scott 4 years ago, mid-April, 3 Comments »
South Africa ripped through New Zealand’s top order to reduce the Black Caps to 6 for 30 or something bizzare like that. Brenden McCullum and Hamish Marshall organised a bit of a recovery but the New Zealanders are still neck-deep in trouble at 77 for 7. Open blog here!
3 Comments »South Africa v New Zealand betting, first Test
By Will 4 years ago, mid-April, 1 Comment »
Interesting odds from Betfair
2 for SA, 2.24 for NZ. South Africa leading by 129 Place your bets!
1 Comment »South Africa v New Zealand, Centurion, 2nd day
By Will 4 years ago, mid-April, No Comments; be the first!
I had little enthusiasm for this game today. Waking up at 7am on Easter Sunday is hard enough. But as it turned out, it was a bloody excellent day’s cricket – if only to see the boks struggle! I do love seeing them in strife, and I really don’t know why, but partly due to my New Zealand ancestry I guess. Jacob Oram hit a magnificent century – on his comeback Test, too. More thoughts over at Cricinfo.
No Comments »South Africa vs New Zealand 1st Test, Day 1
By Scott 4 years ago, mid-April, No Comments; be the first!
South Africa are batting, but Gibbs is out early. Open thread folks, come on you Black Caps.
No Comments »