South Africa tour of NewZealand, 2012

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Justin Ontong has said he was surprised at his inclusion in South Africa's ODI and Twenty20 squads for the tour of New Zealand and hopes to make this latest chance count More... South Africa in New Zealand 2011-12 Justin Ontong recalled to limited-overs squads ESPNcricinfo staff January 25, 2012 Justin Ontong, the Cape Cobras allrounder, has been included in South Africa's squads for the one-day and Twenty20 international series in New Zealand in February. Graeme Smith has been left out of the Twenty20 side, and another Cobras batsman Richard Levi will open with Hashim Amla in the format. JP Duminy was chosen ahead of Ashwell Prince in the Test squad, which also includes Robin Peterson in place of Paul Harris. Marchant de Lange, who took seven wickets in an innings on Test debut against Sri Lanka, was selected for his first tour and was named in the Test and T20 squads. Jacques Kallis and Dale Steyn were rested for the Twenty20 series. Ontong hasn't been part of a South Africa squad since the 2009 World Twenty20 in England, where he did not play a game. The last time he played for the country was in March 2009, a T20 match against Australia. However, Ontong averaged 72 in this season's 1-Day Cup, South Africa's List A competition, and 76 in the SuperSport Series, the first-class tournament. He played some crucial knocks in the 1-Day Cup, with his three half-centuries all coming at close to a run a ball, and he helped take the Cobras over the line in the final with an unbeaten 37 off 28 balls. "Ontong fully deserves this latest call-up," Andrew Hudson, Cricket South Africa's selection convener, said. "He has shown outstanding domestic form this season and I believe he has developed into a more mature cricketer. His finishing ability was a key factor in the Cobras' success in winning the 1-Day Cup. "He is the complete limited-overs package, being a fine batsman who will strengthen our fielding disciplines and also give us another bowling option. "We have decided to try out some exciting new options in the T20 squad such as Levi, Ontong and de Lange. There are only 11 matches left in this format before we travel to Sri Lanka for the ICC World Twenty20 and this is really the last chance to explore the talent we have at our disposal. Having AB de Villiers fit again for T20 action also gives us a lot more flexibility and better balance." South Africa will play three Twenty20s in New Zealand, five against Zimbabwe at home and three more in England before the World Twenty20. An ICC trophy is the one thing noticeable by its absence in the South African cabinet and one of coach Gary Kirsten's foremost priorities is to change that. Smith's exclusion from the squad suggests he is not in the plans for the World Twenty20. Instead, it looks like Levi, who made an impression at last year's Champions League T20 and was the third highest run-scorer in the 2010-11 Pro20 competition, will be groomed. Rusty Theron, who is renowned for his death bowling, has also been given another chance. Albie Morkel keeps his place in the limited-overs squad. He was not included in the original squad for the ODIs against Sri Lanka, but was called up as a replacement for Dean Elgar ahead of the first ODI. He was only required to score quick runs down the order and did not take any wickets in the series. Rory Kleinveldt and Elgar, who were both selected for the ODI series against Sri Lanka, were not considered because of injury. Kleinveldt did not play in the series and sustained a quadricep injury after the first match in Paarl. Elgar hurt his knee in the field in a SuperSport Series match and was forced to withdraw from the squad before the series started. Twenty20 squad: AB de Villiers (capt), Hashim Amla (vc), Johan Botha, Marchant de Lange, JP Duminy, Colin Ingram, Richard Levi, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Justin Ontong, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Rusty Theron, Lonwabo Tsotsobe. Tour Itinerary: February 17: 1st Twenty20, Westpac Stadium, Wellington February 19: 2nd Twenty20, Seddon Park, Hamilton February 22: 3rd Twenty20, Eden Park, Auckland February 25: 1st ODI, Westpac Stadium, Wellington February 29, 2nd ODI: McLean Park, Napier March 3: 3rd ODI, Eden Park, Auckland March 7-11: 1st Test, University Oval, Dunedin March 15-19: 2nd Test, Seddon Park, Hamilton March 23-27: 3rd Test, Basin Reserve, Wellington Ross Taylor, the new captain of New Zealand, said the summer would be a tough one for his team, with nine matches against the strong South African outfit. "It will be a very challenging summer of international cricket and we are looking forward to taking on South Africa and Zimbabwe at home in front of our fans," Taylor said. "South Africa is currently ranked second in world Test rankings so the three-Test series against them will be an excellent gauge of our progress." .

[Dravid_TheWall]

Four quicks have 'venom in every spell' - Martin

http://www.espncricinfo.com/new-zealand-v-zimbabwe-2012/content/current/story/551431.html Chris Martin lauds varied pace attack Related LinksReport : New Zealand bowl out Zimbabwe twice in a day Players/Officials: Chris Martin Matches: New Zealand v Zimbabwe at Napier Series/Tournaments: Zimbabwe tour of New Zealand Teams: New Zealand | Zimbabwe Chris Martin, who claimed career-best figures of 6 for 26 against Zimbabwe in Napier, has said New Zealand's success in the Test had much to do with a four-pronged pace attack. New Zealand's bowlers combined to bowl Zimbabwe out twice on the same day - only the third such instance in history - propelling the hosts to an innings and 301-run victory. "It was [overwhelming for Zimbabwe] I think four [fast] guys with the ball, they all do something a little bit different. We don't probably get over-bowled, so there's a little bit of venom in every spell." New Zealand played four quicks in the match, with Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell and Tim Southee partnering Martin. In Zimbabwe's first innings, each of the four fast bowlers picked up two wickets apiece to skittle the visitors for 51, while in the second Martin and Bracewell polished them off. "The pitch actually quickened up a wee bit over the course of the match. I'm definitely more of a bounce bowler, so I enjoyed the bounce and pace in it. Dougie just swings the ball very nicely to the right-handers, and is always going to be a threat. I think Boulty and Timmy were hungry, and definitely wanted the ball the whole day. So we were all competing for it, and it's nice to get a win out of that kind of competitiveness within the bowling ranks." With Daniel Vettori filling the spinner's role, the New Zealand line-up comprised only five frontline batsmen, plus wicketkeeper BJ Watling. However, with some of the bowlers' ability to contribute with the bat as well, the line-up isn't unstable, Martin said. "I like to see it [five bowlers playing] happening. I think the ability of Doug and Timmy with the bat is going to get better and better, and with Dan batting at six - he's out there to score runs every time he plays, he probably averages about 40 [with the bat] over the past five years - I think we're going to have some success." Chris Martin says there is a lot of healthy competition among New Zealand's fast bowlers Ž© Martin's eight wickets in the match took him level with Chris Cairns on the list of New Zealand's top wicket-takers. With 218, Martin is joint-third, behind Richard Hadlee and Vettori. "I had him [Cairns] on the radar, but perhaps not at the start of the day," Martin said. "I'm stoked to have got that far, and hopefully I push on past him." Tweaking his run-up has helped him be more effective, Martin said. "I tinkered with something last summer, just to get my stride patterns right with my run-up, so I wasn't over-striding. Now I'm cruising in a little bit more, the angle with which I'm bowling now is helping me swing the ball more." After the limited-overs series against Zimbabwe, New Zealand will face stronger opposition in South Africa and, according to Martin, they are up for the challenge. "I think the consistency with which we have attacked that off-stump line, with a little bit of movement, and the way we have drawn them [batsmen] into playing shots that perhaps they didn't want to, I think against any side that is always going to be competitive. "The slip catching has been out of this world. I don't think I have seen a better one than the one Dean Brownlie took today. All of those things we may have to do for longer periods against South Africa, but they definitely bode well for the ability of our boys to remain composed and get the results, which is something we have carried on from Hobart."

Credit to Chris. He maintains fitness and runs in hard at this age. He loves the game and good to see that passion. Mujhe kuch aur yaad agaya when I read thread title, humare pass bhi venom hai

[Needforspeed]

Credit to Chris. He maintains fitness and runs in hard at this age. He loves the game and good to see that passion. Mujhe kuch aur yaad agaya when I read thread title' date=' [b']humare pass bhi venom hai

Kahan? Jungle mein? Dekh liya bahut venom. :haha:

[Dravid_TheWall]

Kahan? Jungle mein? Dekh liya bahut venom. :haha:

:hysterical:

[saneindian]

Who knows our venom could also get the venom back if he goes bald like Martin.

[Dravid_TheWall]

Who knows our venom could also get the venom back if he goes bald like Martin.

It wouldn't suit him :giggle:

[Magneto]

He'll look good. He'll look like Kancha Cheena and can ape some of his antics too.

[Tendulkar_Bhai]

This guy is a joke! If he played in India or Australia he would get battered. He looked like Steyn on those NZ pitches against Aus but even VK would have done.

[cameron_black]

This guy is a joke! If he played in India or Australia he would get battered. He looked like Steyn on those NZ pitches against Aus but even VK would have done.

why do you talk like you were in a coma until now? http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/464531.html look at how the indians battered him in second innings remember hobart 2012? i know that he's between average and good, but he's been a great servant for NZ cricket.

[ChanaLal]

Credit to Chris. He maintains fitness and runs in hard at this age. He loves the game and good to see that passion. Mujhe kuch aur yaad agaya when I read thread title' date=' humare pass bhi venom hai [/quote'] I'm sorry, I just HAD to laugh at the VENOM part of the 'four quicks' hahahah :hysterical: Trent Boult described on Cricinfo as medium-fast Chris Martin fast-medium (and that is doubtful) Dougie Bracewell medium Tim Southee medium-fast It's one thing to talk yourself up, but quite another to be completely deluded.

[Malcolm Merlyn]

Let them come to india in june we will see the venom then. Sent from my GT-I9103 using Tapatalk

[Needforspeed]

The way Indian team is at the moment + the ostrich like attitude of BCCI, I am not sure if we can beat even NZ at home.

[chainsmoker1985]

I can't believe that this guy is over 37, seriously, I thought he'd be somewhere around 32. This'd be a great compliment for him, but I really thought so

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New Zealand, new challenge for de Villiers AB de Villiers has been on 15 international tours but his next one, the upcoming series in New Zealand, is his first as captain More... New Zealand, new challenge for de Villiers Firdose Moonda February 10, 2012 AB de Villiers has been on 15 international tours but his next one, the upcoming series in New Zealand, may as well be his first. Not only does it take him to a country he has never toured before but it is his opening overseas assignment as captain of South Africa's limited-overs sides. Since taking over the leadership role last June, de Villiers has had just one opportunity to actually lead. January's five-match rubber against Sri Lanka was his first in charge. South Africa won the series 3-2 but it was manner of results rather than the results themselves that got de Villiers noticed. Under him, nothing stood still. Not the No. 4 position in the batting order, which was rotated between him, JP Duminy and Faf du Plessis, not the regular pattern of bowling changes, not the scoring rate. South Africa seemed to have more life, they played with a different intent and although they lost the last two matches in the series, they did not appear to stop having fun. De Villiers said the trip to New Zealand is a chance for the good times to keep rolling. "We are young side and we have a lot to prove. We are going to try and get a bit of a team spirit going over there," he said in Johannesburg, ahead of the team's departure for Auckland. "It's tough to get a team spirit going when you are at home, things are a bit disjointed, but on tour there's nothing else to do but be with your team-mates. We're going to have a good time over there." Since making his ODI debut in 2005, de Villiers has been all about fun on the field. As the years have gone on, he has also developed a more thoughtful side to his game and it's the combination of the surreal and the serious that saw him progress to the captaincy. de Villiers is a deeply passionate and proud man. As a result, losing is always failing to him and the collective is always more important than the individual. Travelling to New Zealand will test all these values, adding to what will already make the series compelling. New Zealand knocked South Africa out of the last World Cup and they have also had a successful summer, winning a Test in Australia and mauling Zimbabwe. Like South Africa, they are building towards something and their blend of youth and experience seems to be at its optimum. In their backyard, where South Africa have not been since 2004, de Villiers said any opposition will have to be wary. "They are a very clever team, they think on their feet," he said. "But hopefully, we'll be the smarter team in the series." The tour is the first of three overseas outings for South Africa this year and will be used as the springboard for what is being billed as the contest of 2012, in England. "We understand that this tour is important for our tour to England. This will be a very competitive series. This is a big tour in terms of what we want to achieve as a Test side," coach Gary Kirsten said. Should South Africa whitewash New Zealand in their three-Test series, they will take over the No. 1 ranking. If they don't, they will have another chance in England. Before they even look that far, they have three Twenty20 internationals and three ODIs to contest. The former will be crucial to their plans to win an ICC Trophy for the first time since 1998, at the World T20. South Africa play 11 T20s before that competition, including five against Zimbabwe, and Kirsten said the New Zealand series will allow them to start strategising. "The T20 team is a very young team, so there will be a lot of energy," he said. One of the newest members of that side is opening batsman Richard Levi, who replaces Graeme Smith. Levi has been setting fireworks off in the domestic twenty-over competition for the last two seasons and Kirsten said he hopes that will translate on to the international stage. "We would be very excited if we could have a batsman in our top six that is consistently explosive. Let's remember that the pinch-hitters haven't come off in the shorter format of the game so if he comes off and becomes a superstar for South Africa cricket we will all be very happy." Levi, Marchant de Lange and recalled all-rounder Justin Ontong are three names de Villiers says are "exciting to be going to the World T20 with," and he hopes to integrate them into the side as quickly as possible. The trio are entering the set-up at a welcoming time, with a creative captain who will demand nothing but their best. In addition to the expectations on his team, de Villiers also has high hopes for himself. He wants to use the trip to develop and enforce his own style. "I thought the boys responded well to my leadership but I am not there yet, I've got a lot to learn." His education will come on a maiden voyage to New Zealand and as captain. At his departure press conference, de Villiers looked and sounded as excited and nervous as a teenager about to attend his first high-school ball. By the sounds of it, a ball of a different kind is in order in New Zealand.

[Chandan]

South Africa tour of NewZealand, 2012 Smith is dropped or has he retired from T20?

[achilles]

Retired.

[adi B]

unusual tour planning 2-1 t20`s for saffers 2-1 odi`s to kiwis 1-1 tests draw

[Stuge]

grave yard for south africa .. NZ just crushed Zimbos badly

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South Africa Begin New Zealand Tour Strongly : Levi and Tsotsobe star in opening win Richard Levi's half-century gave a powerful start to the South Africans' batting, before Lonwabo Tsotsobe's early hat-trick helped set up a 20-run win against Canterbury in Christchurch. More... Canterbury v South Africans, T20, Christchurch Levi and Tsotsobe star in opening win ESPNcricinfo staff February 15, 2012 Comments: 1 | Login via | Text size: A | A South Africans 150 for 6 (Levi 63, Worker 3-23) beat Canterbury 130 (Henry 42, Tsotsobe 4-18) by 20 runs Scorecard and ball-by-ball details By the end of Lonwabo Tsotsobe's spell, Canterbury were 24 for 4 Richard Levi's half-century gave a powerful start to the South Africans' batting, before Lonwabo Tsotsobe's early hat-trick helped set up a 20-run win against Canterbury in Christchurch. The South Africans' tour opener wasn't all one-sided though, as their middle order stumbled and their bowlers were given a scare by a late cameo by Matt Henry. After Canterbury chose to field, Levi gave the visitors a blazing start. He outscored Hashim Amla in an explosive opening stand as the South Africans raced to 80 for 0 in eight overs. The most productive over of the match was the fifth - 21 runs came off it as Levi started by slamming medium-pacer Logan van Beek for fours fours. He reached his fifty in the next over with a big six over midwicket but Levi's dismissal in the ninth over led to the visitors losing their way. The next six overs yielded only 27 runs for the loss of Amla, Colin Ingram and captain AB de Villiers. The South Africans had looked set for at least 180 when Levi was in the middle, but they ended up with a relatively modest 150. If Canterbury were buoyed by their efforts in the second half of the visitors' batting, their hopes were punctured by Tsotsobe's hat-trick. He ended the second over of the chase by dismissing the openers George Worker and Peter Fulton before returning to trap Shanan Stewart lbw with an incutter. In his third over, he took out highly rated youngster Tom Latham and by the end of his spell, Canterbury were at 24 for 4. The match meandered along and the South Africans seemed headed for a huge victory before the No. 9, Henry, swung five sixes in a 17-ball 42 to briefly raise Canterbury's spirits. The fight was virtually over in the 18th over, though, as he edged a Morne Morkel yorker through to the keeper and Canterbury were bowled out with an over to spare. de Villiers was thrilled with the successful start to the tour. "This was exactly what we needed," he said. "We needed a competitive challenge and all the credit to Canterbury's batsmen for fighting the way they did towards the end." He was also pleased with the form of Levi and Tsotsobe. "Richard is a phenomenal batsman, he is an impact player and it is very exciting for us to have a player of his calibre at the top of the order. "Lopsy has just been outstanding. I don't know how he does it so consistently, he just keeps taking wickets."

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'Levi set the base for us' - de Villiers Levi wore his country's colours for the first time in Christchurch to play a tour match against Canterbury in the name of Earthquake Relief. It was not exactly the big debut he could have got but he made it count with a blistering 63 off 32 balls More...