New Zealand v South Africa, Dunedin, 1st Test Thread

[Duty281]

First topic message reminder :

Game should have started 5 minutes ago but it's raining so we have a delayed start.

[Pete C (Kiwireddevil)]

Well unless New Zealand take the final 7 wickets for less than 67 runs then it's game over. A shame as they had matched South Africa for 2 days but I suppose class always shows through in the end. Only thing that'll save New Zealand now is rain and there is predicted to be quite a bit of it on day 5 so maybe they can save this test match.

Weather in Dunedin

Just as well they didn't use the (covered) rugby stadium across the road

[Duty281]

Just over an hour gone on Day 4 and only one wicket so far, Kallis gone for 113 off of the bowling of Boult. The lead is up to 268 but New Zealand are keeping the runs down (so far!).

[Biltong]

you watching mate?

I am going to try to stay awake for this, I reckon we might try to bat halfway to tea time and then put them in when we hve a lead around 350-360

[Corporalhumblebucket]

some smart stats from Cricinfo.

Jacques Kallis scored his 42nd Test century and moved past Ricky Ponting's tally of 41 hundreds. Only Sachin Tendulkar with 51 Test centuries is above Kallis on the list of batsmen with most centuries.

Perhaps Kallis will wave to Sachin when he passes that total.

[Biltong]

It would be nice if he could, he has played roughy 30 tests less than Tendulkar and is nine behind, the question is how long will Tendullkar still play?

[Duty281]

Rudolph made an unbeaten 105 and South Africa declared on 435/5 leaving the Kiwis an unlikely 401 to win. They had to bat 41 overs before the close and quickly slumped to 55/2. But McCullum and Taylor have added an unbeaten 82 run stand to leave them 137/2 at stumps. New Zealand will require 268 off of the final day and South Africa need 8 wickets but the rain will spoil any chance of a good climax, if the forecasts are true.

[hampo17]

I've enjoyed this test match, not had chance to see alot of New Zealand for a long time. Hopefully get a good conclusion as I'm watching the boxing tonight but might stay up for the cricket as well.

[jbd349]

Does anyone know why Rudolph came in ahead of De Villiers?

[Biltong]

JBD, i think it was merely due to the fact that there were only a few overs left when a wicket fell. You could say a nightwatchman role.

[Duty281]

Right the final day of this quite absorbing Test Match begins in around 5 minutes and the situation is thus:

New Zealand need another 264 runs to win with 8 wickets remaining and there is 98 overs (I think) to be played. However, the rain looks set to intervene.

[Duty281]

Alas, it has absolutely tipped down overnight and play will be delayed. And it looks like it will be a substantial delay. Well this delay will probably eliminate the whole first session so that's New Zealand's chances of a famous victory gone (not that it was very likely anyway!).

[Biltong]

This will be a draw.

[Duty281]

Nailed-on draw now.

[Liam]

Is the stipulation that SA need to win 3-0 to regain test n.1 status from England. If so, let it rain

Although I can't see anything other than a draw or a SA win. NZ would've needed Taylor and McCullum to score big today with another 2 getting 50's. Big ask against SA pace attack with a second new ball. How poor was Southee yesterday, talk of him losing his test place and no wonder, really was a lacklustre performance. I do wonder why NZ play so little test cricket, I think they have a talented side and unfortunately we never seem to see it in the toughest form of cricket. Any ideas why they play so little Test cricket?

[Pete C (Kiwireddevil)]

Is the stipulation that SA need to win 3-0 to regain test n.1 status from England. If so, let it rain

Although I can't see anything other than a draw or a SA win. NZ would've needed Taylor and McCullum to score big today with another 2 getting 50's. Big ask against SA pace attack with a second new ball. How poor was Southee yesterday, talk of him losing his test place and no wonder, really was a lacklustre performance. I do wonder why NZ play so little test cricket, I think they have a talented side and unfortunately we never seem to see it in the toughest form of cricket. Any ideas why they play so little Test cricket?

Money. NZ's TV market is very small, so other countries make a lot less off hosting NZ than they would off playing someone else, and similarly NZ can't pay as much to attract touring teams.

[Duty281]

Didn't even manage to get one over in last night so the test is a draw and England's no.1 ranking is safe for now.

[Liam]

Is the stipulation that SA need to win 3-0 to regain test n.1 status from England. If so, let it rain

Although I can't see anything other than a draw or a SA win. NZ would've needed Taylor and McCullum to score big today with another 2 getting 50's. Big ask against SA pace attack with a second new ball. How poor was Southee yesterday, talk of him losing his test place and no wonder, really was a lacklustre performance. I do wonder why NZ play so little test cricket, I think they have a talented side and unfortunately we never seem to see it in the toughest form of cricket. Any ideas why they play so little Test cricket?

Money. NZ's TV market is very small, so other countries make a lot less off hosting NZ than they would off playing someone else, and similarly NZ can't pay as much to attract touring teams.

Cheers Kiwi. Speaking as someone from Cardiff who went down for the Sri Lanka series, I see where your coming from. If NZ played a test against England at the SWALEC you would see about 5,000 there if your lucky. It's a shame because with people like Guptill, McCullum and Williamson, they have some very good batsmen, and someone like Bracewell would cause a few problems in England with the seaming conditions.

[Biltong]

Didn't even manage to get one over in last night so the test is a draw and England's no.1 ranking is safe for now.

Congrats duty, we'll come take it when we visit you later in the year, it will be more apt anyway. You don't want to lose it to a team and not play them.

[Pete C (Kiwireddevil)]

Tim Southee has been dropped from the squad for the 2nd test, with Mark Gillespie recalled after not playing a test since 2008.

Expect Andy Ellis or Brent Arnel to play in Hamilton - Ellis would add to the batting at number 8.

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