New Zealand vs Zimbabwe: Only Test, Napier

Zimbabwe's short New Zealand tour gets into gear tomorrow with the start of the sole test match in Napier. Reports from Napier say that BJ Watling was keeping in the nets today, so it appears he's edged Kruger van Wyk in that contest. Watling reportedly kept well, and scored 84 for the NZ XI in the warm up match in Gisbourne over the weekend. While he has been less-than-successful as an opener in his test career to date it's felt that he should perform better at 7.

The home team caused a stir when they drafted unheralded Otago all-rounder Sam Wells into their squad yesterday, but it appears he's there for experience-in-squad. That means that NZ will go into the match with 4 seamers in Martin, Southee, Bracewell and Boult, with Daniel Vettori to bat at 6, making for a long tail. NZ also have part-time spin options in Guptill and Brownlee, so Ross Taylor's not short of bowling options.

With Chris Mpofu missing the tour through injury Brian Vitori and Kyle Jarvis should spearhead the visitors' attack, with either Keegan Meth or Shingarai Masakadza as 3rd seamer. Ray Price didn't bowl in the NZ XI's 2nd innings in Gisbourne, but should get the spinner's birth ahead of Graeme Cremer if fit. Captain Brendan Taylor has been a success for Wellington in the 20:20 HRV Cup and is the key to Zimbabwe's batting, especially with opener Vusi Sibanda missing the tour after turning down a Zimbabwe contract in favour of a stint of grade cricket in Australia. Sibanda is currently on a pay-as-you-play arrangement with the Mid-West Rhinos, so could be eligible for national selection again soon. Tatenda Taibu kept wicket in Gisbourne, though he played as a specialist batsman in the Zimbabwe vs NZ test last year, so it's not clear whether Reg Chakabva will play or if Elton Chigumbura will get a run.

The pitch in Napier is traditionally one of the best batting tracks in New Zealand, with Hawkes Bay province having a sunny dry climate. However New Zealand has been suffering a wet, cool summer to date so there may be something in the track for seamers. Edit; I found some information on the pitch, apparently for the pitch inspection today the track was rock hard with a lot of grass on it.

Teams:
New Zealand (probable)
Martin Guptill
Brendon McCullum
Kane Williamson
Ross Taylor*
Dean Brownlie
Daniel Vettori
BJ Watling†
Tim Southee
Trent Boult
Doug Bracewell
Chris Martin

12th man: Kruger van Wyk†/Sam Wells

Zimbabwe (from):
Tino Mawoyo
Hamilton Masakadza
Forster Mutizwa
Brendan Taylor*†
Tatenda Taibu†
Murray Waller
Regis Chakabva†
Ray Price
Brian Vitori
Kyle Jarvis
Keegan Meth
Elton Chigumbura
Shingarai Masakadza
Graeme Cremer

(thanks to stuff.co.nz, the NZ Herald and Cricinfo)

Just by way of an update, Ray Price has been ruled out of the test with a groin injury. Updated teams look like being:

New Zealand: (probable)
1 Martin Guptill
2 Brendon McCullum
3 Kane Williamson
4 Ross Taylor (capt)
5 Dean Brownlie
6 Daniel Vettori
7 BJ Watling (wk)
8 Doug Bracewell
9 Tim Southee
10 Trent Boult
11 Chris Martin

Zimbabwe: (probable)
1 Tino Mawoyo
2 Hamilton Masakadza
3 Regis Chakabva
4 Brendan Taylor (capt)
5 Tatenda Taibu
6 Malcolm Waller
7 Elton Chigumbura
8 Graeme Cremer
9 Shingi Masakadza
10 Kyle Jarvis
11 Brian Vitori

There will be 5 wicket-keepers playing across the 2 teams, McCullum, Watling, Chakabva, Taylor and Taibu!

It will be an interesting game, no doubt. Was really impressed with Brendan Taylor on our tour there and he is the key to Zimbabwe’s overall effort. I still think we’ll be stronger in home conditions and only a win will be good enough if we want to do anything about improving our ranking.

Top order need to fire here with SA on the way...

I am sure New Zealand will use this test to get their batsmen settled nicely for the upcoming SA tour. Their bolwers will be able to work on their areas.

Are South Africa playing on the same ground when they arrive?

Biltong, here's the schedule

Date and Time Match Details and Series
Fri Feb 17 1st T20 - New Zealand vs South Africa
19:00 local | 06:00 GMT Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Sun Feb 19 2nd T20 - New Zealand vs South Africa
19:00 local | 06:00 GMT Seddon Park, Hamilton
Wed Feb 22 3rd T20 - New Zealand vs South Africa
19:00 local | 06:00 GMT Eden Park, Auckland
Sat Feb 25 1st ODI - New Zealand vs South Africa
Westpac Stadium, Wellington
14:00 local | 01:00 GMT
Wed Feb 29 2nd ODI - New Zealand vs South Africa
McLean Park, Napier
14:00 local | 01:00 GMT
Sat Mar 3 3rd ODI - New Zealand vs South Africa
Eden Park, Auckland
14:00 local | 01:00 GMT
Wed Mar 7 - Sun Mar 11 1st Test - New Zealand vs South Africa
10:30 local | 21:30 GMT University Oval, Dunedin
Thu Mar 15 - Mon Mar 19 2nd Test - New Zealand vs South Africa
10:30 local | 21:30 GMT Seddon Park, Hamilton
Fri Mar 23 - Tue Mar 27 3rd Test - New Zealand vs South Africa
10:30 local | 21:30 GMT Basin Reserve, Wellington

There have been 9 test matches in Napier and NZ is yet to win one (there have been several high-scoring draws). Here's hoping we can break that duck!

At least it is a three test seires. I hate these bloody two test series.

When was the last time NZ travelled to SA, it feels like ages ago.

biltongbek wrote:At least it is a three test seires. I hate these bloody two test series.

When was the last time NZ travelled to SA, it feels like ages ago.

The last SA vs NZ test in SA was November 2007 (I think there may have been some ODIs since?). It has been a while.

i thought it was only one test...why are people saying its three....

cricketfan90 wrote:i thought it was only one test...why are people saying its three....

they are talking about the SA tests

ah right thanks for clearing that up for me peter

Lunch on the first day New Zealand 98 without loss.

After Zimbabwe won the toss too. Sounds like in spite of the grass on top it's another Napier batting paradise.

How's it going now guys?

Love the ground at Napier. Sounds like a perfect batting wicket there again.

Mon N'Zland!

Ross Taylor with a ton, I see.

Think NZ will be happy to come in at 330-5, thought McCullum and Guptill should have kicked on though....apparently Stuff.co.nz said Vettori looked the best batsmen on the day even though Taylor hit an unbeaten ton. The boy needs more tons to get into the world class category so this will help him for the series v SA.

Think there might be a lot still in the pitch, our bowling attack is certainly better than Zim’s and probably would’ve been more productive on that pitch. Anyway, game on!

very good day for NZ, still cant belive that Hamilton Masakaza bowled 16 overs

cricketfan90 wrote:very good day for NZ, still cant belive that Hamilton Masakaza bowled 16 overs

I know, and he was on at 2nd change, in the 2nd hour. I'm really surprised they left out Chigumbura. Especially as Chakabva is playing as a specialist #7 batsman while Taibu keeps.

I'd be happier if NZ was only 4 down, there's not much batting to come (even if Southee smashed 70-odd in Napier vs England on debut). 400 should be a minimum target from here, but I really can't see the tail getting the score through to more than 450.

how on earth chigumbura didnt play i will never know :facepalm.

Ahh, but KRD Watling has so much to prove in this test. He’ll come out tomorrow looking for a big score to cement his place for the SA series and with Taylor well set i would expect at least 450. I’d like to see Taylor hit a double (or triple) if at all possible!

watling has dropped from opening all the way to no7, that is ridiclous IMO...

he would have been better off around 4 or 5.

cricketfan90 wrote:watling has dropped from opening all the way to no7, that is ridiclous IMO...

he would have been better off around 4 or 5.

A test batting ave of aound 24 needs work

Plus he's not particularly used to keeping for long spells so it's probably better to give him a longer rest in between keeping and batting.


A nice stat I saw today, Brendan McCullum averages 45 opening vs 36 for his whole test career. Ditching the gloves hasn't been as bad a move as I was expecting.

sangakarra also has done better since ditching the gloves.

Yeah Prior of all the active test keepers has by far the best batting record in games with the gloves.
Youre looking at Gilchrist to better him.

392-5 at the close of day 2 apparently.

Ross taylor also retired hurt.

Yep rained off after 15 overs.....

cremer hasnt been as effective as ZIM would have hoped.

Thats why i always use milk in my coffeee

NZ declare at 495/7

A flurry of Zimbabwean wickets this morning. 41/6.
Martin, Boult and Bracewell with 2 wickets apiece so far.

All out for 51, Zimbabwe's lowest ever Test total.

Zim looking to beat the 51 record now

11/3 Following-on.

Zimbabwe all out for 143 in their second dig.

NZ's best ever victory by an innings and 301 runs

22 wickets fell today; 297 runs scored. Zimbabwe were bowled out twice in a day.

Chris Martin (MoM) got 6/26 in the second innings to add to his 2/5 this morning.
He is now all time equal 3rd on the best NZ bowler's list on 218 (along with Chris Cairns) - behind Vettori and Hadlee.

horrendous effort from ZIM.

they appeared to be stringing some decent results and perfofmances together, but this has shown, that they still have light years to go.

How fast is this left-arm pacer Trent Boult, is he as quick as Shane Bond was?

gboycottnut wrote:How fast is this left-arm pacer Trent Boult, is he as quick as Shane Bond was?

I don't think he's Bond's pace. Bond was 3rd fastest around behind Lee and Akhtar at his peak (and at the time I thought the faster 2's arms were bending past the then 10 degree limit , that type of pace doesn't come around often.

correct me if im wrong, but i think Boult is around the 85mph mark, and bond was 90+ reguarly.