NZ cricket score

[robf]

They are not enjoying the greatest start to their Test series against South Africa...

 

http://www.espncricinfo.com/south-africa-v-new-zealand-2012/engine/current/match/567356.html

 

One wag on cricinfo remarked - "Graeme Smith said after the toss that he wasn't sure whether he should've batted or bowled in the first session today. Now he can do both!"

[cheshirevaliant]

Even with a full strength side, NZ would not be good enough to stop this South African team. Sadly, their internal problems mean this will (or has already) turned into a joke series. Not what Test cricket needs at the moment.

[Warren]

I thought South Africa were a lot stronger than England in the recent series although to be fair England have regrouped and might make a better challenge now. New Zealand are a small country with a population supported by a lot of foreigners including my son presently. The estimated resident population is 4.4 million presently, so we are looking at a country with the same population as the Irish Republic. Given a normal age distribution they must have a small population of cricketers to choose from.

[robf]

I thought South Africa were a lot stronger than England in the recent series although to be fair England have regrouped and might make a better challenge now. New Zealand are a small country with a population supported by a lot of foreigners including my son presently. The estimated resident population is 4.4 million presently, so we are looking at a country with the same population as the Irish Republic. Given a normal age distribution they must have a small population of cricketers to choose from.

 

All of the above is not helped by them sacking their captain and their best player just after he has won a series. Even NZ with a sparse population and small pool of players to pick from would surely expect to score more than 45 - but they haven't helped themselves at all ahead of this series and many neutrals (myself included) would say that it serves the head coach and selectors right...

 

That said, Brownlie, brought in to replace Taylor, the former skipper, has just made a century...

[Tone]

I thought South Africa were a lot stronger than England in the recent series although to be fair England have regrouped and might make a better challenge now. New Zealand are a small country with a population supported by a lot of foreigners including my son presently. The estimated resident population is 4.4 million presently, so we are looking at a country with the same population as the Irish Republic. Given a normal age distribution they must have a small population of cricketers to choose from.

 

On the basis of that argument, the USA ought to be a powerful force in cricket.

[Warren]

On the basis of that argument, the USA ought to be a powerful force in cricket.

 

USA is baseball land which is a game I prefer over cricket.

 

I would add that in the second innings I thought the later New Zealand players were trying to get out. I saw something adverse in them I have not seen before in New Zealand sports men and women.