New Zealand v South Africa, 3rd Test, Wellington, 23-27 March, 2012

Does anyone really GAF? I guess the big interest is whether or not Philander can maintain his remarkable strike rate.

The kiwis can still draw the series thanks to the dank Dunedin weather.

Philander has the chance to become the quickest to 50 post the 19th century so that adds some interest. Pity they dropped Nicol because it's always fun to watch a walking wicket.

There's always the question of whether or not Martin can get yet another duck.

He could have easily got a pair had Morkel the nous to do what Philander did and attack the stumps.

Ronchi scored a ton today in their local comp.

Have the Sheep forfeited this one?

No Skully Taylor is hoping for improvement but is wary of Philander and Steyn both of whom he rates highly.

"I think you've got to give credit to Philander he put the ball in the right areas I think and when you can swing it away and reverse it in it does become tough on batsmen obviously to find out where your off stump is," said Taylor.

Taylor lost his wicket to Philander in the first innings and fell victim to Dale Steyn in the second and the right-hander believes the South African openers are the two best bowlers in the world at the moment.

"He puts the ball in the areas consistently he reminds me a lot of (Mohammed) Asif he moves the ball both ways," Taylor said of Philander.

"He's not quick, but he's quick enough to hurry you up. And he's developing a very good international record - I think Steyn's at one and he mustn't be too far away.

"He's someone that we're going to have to play a lot better in Wellington find a way of combating him early on.

Red wrote:No Skully Taylor is hoping for improvement ]

No shit Sherlock

So having made stacks of runs batting in the middle order for Northern Districts this season, New Zealand are going to push Daniel Flynn up to open against Steyn, Philander, and Morkel.

Poor guy.

He couldn't do any worse than Nicol though.

Henry wrote:So having made stacks of runs batting in the middle order for Northern Districts this season, New Zealand are going to push Daniel Flynn up to open against Steyn, Philander, and Morkel.

Poor guy.

Have they said he will open?

That's what John Wright has been hinting.
He said that he's looking for a possible left right opening partnership.

Full article

Looks like the weather will play a big role in this test - there could be rain on three of the days.

skully wrote:Have the Sheep forfeited this one?

I've got them on the phone. Doing my best, Skulls.

You really phoned that one in, Smerk.

Red wrote:Looks like the weather will play a big role in this test - there could be rain on three of the days.

Saffie win in five sessions then.

Wouldn't be the first time (NZ losing in 5 sessions).

Any word of a start?

Toss has been delayed due to a wet outfield apparently worsened by a cover blowing off during the night. It's evidently been raining for most of the past week and players have spent most of it indoors. The pitch is said to be green.

been raining sheep and goats there...but sun is out and they may start after an early lunch...

bowlers deck it would seem

They had a feed of the cricketers' tweets coming through and it's taken Steyn a while but he noted.

"Dudes seem to like their sheep over here." He was referring to a sheep shearing competition on the tv where the commentators were carrying on as if they were calling a race.

Red wrote:They had a feed of the cricketers' tweets coming through and it's taken Steyn a while but he noted.

"Dudes seem to like their sheep over here." He was referring to a sheep shearing competition on the tv where the commentators were carrying on as if they were calling a race.

You're sure?

Kiwis win the toss and will bowl on a greentop.

They have gone for one less bowler with Vettori now dropping down a spot to strengthen their batting.

Kallis pulled up sore and is being replaced by Duminy which leaves them short one bowler.

de Lange replaces Tahir so for the first time we will see Steyn, Morkel, Philander and de Lange but having lost the toss it's probably negated this potency.

Also the outfield is slow and the ball is expected to swing with the northerly as opposed to southerly blowing.

Smuthy salivating at the prospects of knocking over SA cheaply.

Hardly looks a greentop. A tinge of green, but nothing major.

So despite clear evidence saying that Graeme Smith didn't hit it, he's given out caught behind. Weird.

And now 5 minutes later snicko shows that the noise is way out of sync with the ball going past the bat. Ridiculous.

NZ cheaping DRS