(I thought I'd create a thread for this.)
Before this match started, I thought it would be 2 very even sides having a go at each other and make for very close games. SA are well on their way to beating New Zealands total here though. I think we're seeing the reason why NZ aren't much of a force anymore; their bowling attack is Danny Vettori plus 3 or 4 dibby dobby medium pacers who don't bowl aggressively enough.

Did anyone see Flemings dismissal though, that's just unlucky :lol: . And AB De Villiers hit a ball straight out of the ground, it was massive.


Bloody hell, they've made heavy weather of this. They were going well around 160-3 now 205-6. Need 39 from 24 balls and they're still nurdling singles; they need boundaries.

And that's it, Kemp sees them home with just 4 balls to spare. It was closer than it looked like being, good finish.

[ October 30, 2005, 16:44: Message edited by: Barmy Army ]

NZ has a TERRIBLE record playing in South Africa. Not sure what it is, but we have some sort of mental block when we play over there, even worse than touring the subcontinent. It's been very frustrating watching this series so far. But, mostly I agree with Barmy, the NZ team is certainly not a very good one at the moment. We could do with one more good bowler and at least one batsman who can be good more than one game in a row.

I think everyone struggles in South Africa, I'm not sure why it is. Englands win there was our first series win in South Africa for over 40 years.
It was a good game anyway, I enjoyed watching it. That's the good thing about ODI's they can end really close.

Yeah, we could have won all three games if we'd held the odd catch or had a wee bit more luck. But we're seriously missing one or two world class players. Our most consistent player this series has been Scott Styris and he's a journeyman at best. I hope we can win at least one game in this series. The boys' confidence will be pretty low at the moment.

The thing that is most noticable about the New Zealand team is that pretty much every player is 'ok', but none are brilliant. I mean, Shane Bond made a fantastic start to his cricket career but even he has gone off the boil. They have a few good batsmen, but no-one who averages 40-50. No blistering pace man like Lee, Harmison, Ntini et al. Basically just a team of ok players.
Any given day those players could have a blinder and beat good teams, but they don't have enough consistently good performers. You get the feeling though, that with (like you say) a seriously fast, aggressive bowler and a star batsman who can average 45+ then all the rest will fall into place. Two or three players away from being a top class side pretty much sums it up.

OK then, what would be your best 11 NZ players from the era you have been watching cricket? It would be interesting to see if we have EVER had more than one or two world class players in recent years, or whether we've always been a bunch of 'OK' players.

Whilst I've been watching this era? Or that I know of? Hmm... I think I'd struggle to name an 11 from my era to be honest but I'll have a go...

Chris Cairns
Daniel Vettori
Shane Bond (purely because of his potential)
Stephen Fleming (the captain, of course)
Richard Hadlee (well before my time, but I just had to :lol: )
Martin Crowe
Mark Richardson (why did he retire so early?)
Adam Parore (one of the best pure keepers I have seen, shame he sucked a bit with the bat)
Nathan Astle
Danny Morrison
Jacob Oram (because I can't think of anyone else :lol: )

So what would yours be? And your England 11 whilst you've been watching cricket...

My top NZ and England Xis since 1982 are:

New Zealand

1. John Wright
2. Bruce Edgar
3. Andrew Jones
4. Martin Crowe
5. Stephen Fleming (capt)
6. Chris Cairns
7. Ian Smith (wk)
8. Sir Richard Hadlee
9. Daniel Vettori
10. Shane Bond
11. Ewen Chatfield
Twelfth Man: Nathan Astle

Really only two “world class” players in that line-up which provides a bit of an indication of where NZ cricket is usually at. Note that we have clearly not had a consistently useful opening partnership for most of the last 20 years!

England

1. Graeme Gooch
2. Michael Atherton (capt)
3. David Gower
4. Graham Thorpe
5. Alec Stewart
6. Andrew Flintoff
7. Ian Botham
8. Bob Taylor (wk)
9. Darren Gough
10. Steve Harmison
11. Bob Willis
Twelfth Man: John Emburey

Now this team does look awesome. The only issue I have with it is that I can’t find any great spinners from this period. If I it’s a turning track, you might be in trouble.

I'd make three changes to the England side HB Vaughan for Atherton and the captaincy and Jack Russell for me at wk. and instead of Gough I would put Simon Jones in.

EDIT: Engalnd haven't had a good slow bowler since Derek Underwood.

England desperately need a new Jim Laker!

I'll do my top England 11 when I can be bothered. Bit tired at minute, another beer sounds better.

And HB, I can't believe you've been watching cricket since before I was born, you fogey!

Ok, I'll do it now because I'm bored :) . Best England side of the last 20 years is IMO...

Graham Gooch
Mike Atherton
Alec Stewart (wkt)
Graham Thorpe
David Gower
Ian Botham
Freddy Flintoff
Dazzler Gough
John Emburey
Angus Fraser
Steve Harmison

Suweet, beat that :) .

[ October 31, 2005, 23:46: Message edited by: Barmy Army ]

Heh... I'd try to make an Aussie XI from the last 20 years, but geez, I'd have a hell of a time cutting it down to just eleven. I'd just be sure to include David Boon. All hail King Boonie!

Bah, another loss for NZ in SA coming up. We can never win in that country.

I think the only country you could win in at the minute is Zimbabwe :D :lol: . Maybe Bangladesh as well if you pulled your socks up :thumb: .