RSA vs NZ, 1st Test, Durban
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Paekakboyz" data-cid="610330" data-time="1472423770">
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<p>I hear ya Donsteppa. He's got an awesome attitude and a big engine. Great to see him getting opportunities on pitches with a bit of life rather than playing the 4th seamer on dirt roads.</p>
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<p>There's a lot to like about the Wag. He must be fit as fucken anything to bowl as often and as well as he does.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Donsteppa" data-cid="610328" data-time="1472423395">
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<p>Almost overlooked; Wagner 5/86 at an economy rate of 2.20. The longer he's playing at the top level the more he's stepping up. The reverse of Southee...?</p>
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<p>I think we could help ourselves by abandoning the myth that Southee is somehow our premier bowler and opens the bowling as of right and at his preferred end.</p>
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<p>Interestingly, Wagner now has a fractionally better bowling average than Boult and a significantly better strike rate.</p>
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<p>Bracewell's figures indicate he's a struggler at test level.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="610339" data-time="1472425456">
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<p>I think we could help ourselves by abandoning the myth that Southee is somehow our premier bowler and opens the bowling as of right and at his preferred end.</p>
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<p>Interestingly, Wagner now has a fractionally better bowling average than Boult and a significantly better strike rate.</p>
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<p>Bracewell's figures indicate he's a struggler at test level.</p>
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<p>Yeah the six for that Bracewell got vs Oz ( what a great day to have had one of my very few sick days from work ! ) is a long time ago now. That and the enduring myth that he's a competent all rounder at test level.</p>
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<p>His other "Michelle" was a month before that but he's never taken more than three in an innings since.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="610339" data-time="1472425456">
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<p>I think we could help ourselves by abandoning the myth that Southee is somehow our premier bowler and opens the bowling as of right and at his preferred end.</p>
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<p>Interestingly, Wagner now has a fractionally better bowling average than Boult and a significantly better strike rate.</p>
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<p>Bracewell's figures indicate he's a struggler at test level.</p>
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<p>I think Southee is likely to be more effective with the new ball than Wagner. I also think Southee isn't an automatic pick anymore but the only alternative is probably Matt Henry.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hydro11" data-cid="610368" data-time="1472430568">
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<p>I think Southee is likely to be more effective with the new ball than Wagner. I also think Southee isn't an automatic pick anymore but the only alternative is probably Matt Henry.</p>
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<p>Yeah - there's certainly little doubt that Wagner's likely to be better than Southee with an older ball. Our attack that was looking so promising 18 months or so ago looks a bit toothless right now - Wagner looking like the spearhead, when I'd pretty much consigned him to history with newer, faster, better guys coming through.</p>
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<p>A bit disappointing really.</p> -
<p>and that 31 includes a big over of bat swinging!!</p>
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<p>SA in the second innings are reeling with Southee and Boult the chief destroyers. Problem is the BCs were meek in the first innings. Barring a miracle the boys will be chasing over 400 in the last innings so any chance of a win is pretty much out of the question. Looks like the usual story, if Williamson and Taylor go cheaply she's all over, if one of them busts out a massive innings ( and you get the feeling Taylor used up all his form on Zimbabwe ) then there's the chance of an honourable draw.</p>
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<p>I look at the "pace" attack ( should have a medium in front ) and there is enough talent there to knock SA over quite quickly tomorrow morning but I dread the thought of one of those lower order batsmen getting a frustrating half century and making it a real uphill battle.</p> -
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="610657" data-time="1472508308">
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<p>SA in the second innings are reeling with Southee and Boult the chief destroyers. Problem is the BCs were meek in the first innings. Barring a miracle the boys will be chasing over 400 in the last innings so any chance of a win is pretty much out of the question. Looks like the usual story, if Williamson and Taylor go cheaply she's all over, if one of them busts out a massive innings ( and you get the feeling Taylor used up all his form on Zimbabwe ) then there's the chance of an honourable draw.</p>
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<p>I look at the "pace" attack ( should have a medium in front ) and there is enough talent there to knock SA over quite quickly tomorrow morning but I dread the thought of one of those lower order batsmen getting a frustrating half century and making it a real uphill battle.</p>
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<p>Do you know, and this is crazy, but since Hesson took over, I have glimmers of hope that we can do it. Previously I would just look up the score to see what we lost by but now, if we did manage to grind out a win or even a draw, I wouldn't be as surprised as I would have been before the Hesson era.</p>
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<p>It may be false hope but In Kane I trust!</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="610642" data-time="1472504162">
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<p>Never good when 31 is the teams third best score.....and number 10 gets it.....</p>
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<p>And I see Steyn has criticised Wagner for not occupying the crease and supporting Kane. </p>
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<p>As to the toss, Wagner commented that he still thought it was the right decision to bowl at the end of day 1. The drop catch by Nicholls proved costly in the context of the test.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="610662" data-time="1472509100">
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<p>Do you know, and this is crazy, but since Hesson took over, I have glimmers of hope that we can do it. Previously I would just look up the score to see what we lost by but now, if we did manage to grind out a win or even a draw, I wouldn't be as surprised as I would have been before the Hesson era.</p>
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<p>It may be false hope but In Kane I trust!</p>
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<p>Agree 100% but let's not forget the guy with the second best New Zealand average of all time* is in the team too and will be keen to atone for the first innings. As I said before getting run out in a test is pretty fucken unforgivable. Another score approaching his mammoth efforts against Oz last year would go down well.</p>
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<p>*Sorry Dempster and Donnelly, you didn't play enough tests to warrant a mention</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Donsteppa" data-cid="610640" data-time="1472503905">
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<p>Why oh why did we bowl first...</p>
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<p>A reasonable question.</p>
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<p>Whatever the plan was, it hasn't worked.</p>
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<p>A quick glance at the Cricinfo website and it looks like there's already variable bounce. Couple that with guys who can bowl at 150kmh and it's never going to be a happy time.</p>
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<p>Pray for rain! :)</p>
