New Zealand vs South Africa, First Test Team Predictions.

Well, clearly the pitch will suit the quicks. Last test to played in Johannesburg was India vs SAF and the Quicks racked up alot of wickets, with Kumble being the only outstanding spinner to get any scalps.

NZ XI 1st Test.

L Vincent
M Papps
S Fleming
S Styris
R Taylor
B McCullum
J Oram
D Vettori
S Bond
C Martin
M Mason

SAF XI 1st Test.

G Smith
H Gibbs
J Kallis
H Amla
A Prince
AB Devilliers
M Boucher
S Pollock
P Harris
A Nel
C Langeveldt

Id go for Cumming, who made runs in the tour match, ahead of Papps. But apart from that, your team looks about right.

Langeveldt is a fair way out of contention for the South African test team at the moment. I think it will be-

Smith(c)
Gibbs
Amla
Kallis
Prince
De Villiers
Boucher+
Pollock
Steyn
Harris
Ntini

What's Morkel's fitness like? They've got pretty good depth to the batting, so they may drop a batsman and play him. And I think they'll try and squeeze Nel in, too. I don't know. It would be lunacy to leave Pollock out again, though.

Morkel fractured a bone in his foot, I think. That's usually about an 8-10 week injury. He might make the one day series that follows the tests.

I wouldn't play Langeveldt. Their attack should be Steyn, Ntini, Pollock and Harris. Pollock will be more suited to the Saffa pitches and his batting adds overall strength. Amla should not be picked; he's a dud. Don't know what the selectors see in him.

Quota

tac wrote:Quota

quota x 2

The quota is officially two, but three is preferable if possible.

JP Duminy deserves a chance in the test side on merit, Gibbs is obviously there on merit, same with Ntini. I think they'll give Amla one more chance, though.

Henry wrote:The quota is officially two, but three is preferable if possible.

JP Duminy deserves a chance in the test side on merit, Gibbs is obviously there on merit, same with Ntini. I think they'll give Amla one more chance, though.

Can't remember Duminy scoring too many FC runs. Amla probably shades him there.

Duminy averages 50 in first class cricket. I forgot Prince as well.

taipan wrote:

Henry wrote:The quota is officially two, but three is preferable if possible.

JP Duminy deserves a chance in the test side on merit, Gibbs is obviously there on merit, same with Ntini. I think they'll give Amla one more chance, though.

Can't remember Duminy scoring too many FC runs. Amla probably shades him there.

JP averages a shade over 50 in FC games, taips, about 7 runs more than the Terrorist.

Henry wrote:Duminy averages 50 in first class cricket. I forgot Prince as well.

Doesn't mean much. FC cricket has been totally diluted by the quota and the international players rarely play.

tac wrote:

taipan wrote:

Henry wrote:The quota is officially two, but three is preferable if possible.

JP Duminy deserves a chance in the test side on merit, Gibbs is obviously there on merit, same with Ntini. I think they'll give Amla one more chance, though.

Can't remember Duminy scoring too many FC runs. Amla probably shades him there.

JP averages a shade over 50 in FC games, taips, about 7 runs more than the Terrorist.

K, didn't seem that much to me from memory

Duminy in first class cricket-

Matches- 37

Runs- 2543

Hundred's- 7

Average- 50.86

Ignoring the stats, he looks a much better player than Amla, who's technique is a bit all over the place.

I have always said Amla is carp

There seems to be a dearth of back up batting in South Africa at the moment. Apart from Duminy, who is there?

Henry wrote:There seems to be a dearth of back up batting in South Africa at the moment. Apart from Duminy, who is there?

The quota has killed it

Henry wrote:Duminy in first class cricket-

Matches- 37

Runs- 2543

Hundred's- 7

Average- 50.86

FFS Henry, I think taips gets it. Talk about flogging a dead horse . . .

Huh? I was just pointing out his stats for everyone's benefit. Wont bother next time.....

Henry wrote:Huh? I was just pointing out his stats for everyone's benefit. Wont bother next time.....

Good. The less you post the better for everyone.

It would seem that only the likes of the already tried Dippenaar and McKenzie could slot in. Not enough young batsmen coming through though they seem to produce bowlers with some young African names coming to the fore in addition to Steyn and the Morkels.

Rudolph was decent, but like KP, has defected to England. If only SA could swap KP for Smith.