FIVE TALKING POINTS
With the five-match ODI series poised 1-1 heading into today’s game three in Wellington (2pm start), the Black Caps or South Africa could seize the decisive advantage. We look at the main talking points of this crucial game in a gripping series to date. TOM’S TIME
The decision to throw Tom Latham the wicketkeeping gloves made sense for team balance, and his glovework’s been very sound, but there’s one problem. New Zealand’s premier test opener’s managed nine runs from four ODI innings against Australia and South Africa, interestingly all when batting first before the wicketkeeping gloves have been applied. Another Latham miss was the only real headache to emerge from a fighting team performance in Christchurch as the ODI wicketkeeping spot continues to prove troublesome.
IN A SPIN
The not-so-old firm of Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi were excellent in Hamilton, and chimed in when needed in Christchurch. Very rarely do New Zealand play two frontline spinners at home and it’s eight Wellington ODIs since Daniel Vettori and Nathan McCullum teamed up against Australia in 2010. The Westpac Stadium drop-in pitch is quicker and bouncier than it was then, and it might be tempting to recall Matt Henry for Sodhi.
DE VILLIERS THE MAN
It may well be possible to detect neither of Abraham Benjamin de Villiers’ feet on the ground as he floats to the middle of Westpac Stadium. New Zealand crowds and TV viewers at least get a chance to savour his batting quality before he misses the test series, and it’s a sit back and enjoy situation. As long as he doesn’t bat for too long. RABADA READY TO ROLL Without Kagiso Rabada, South Africa’s bowlers couldn’t exploit a soft pitch in Christchurch and just four New Zealand wickets fell as Ross Taylor led home an imposing total of 289-4.
Rabada is a star in the making at 21, bowls 150kmh from a great height and can win matches. If he fires in tandem with Chris Morris it’s a different game, but Rabada shoulders a heavy burden already as he recovers from a knee niggle.
SOUTHEE’S STAGE
For the past two home seasons Tim Southee’s provided plenty of head-scratching moments. Will he return to his best of 2012-13? Is he on the slide at international level? There were enough signs in Hamilton and Christchurch, in early and late spells, that Southee still has plenty to offer and can win matches for his country. Off-cutters, changeups, the conventional outswinger and pinpoint yorkers at the death all added up to a crucial win in Christchurch, even if he suffered in one over of Dwaine Pretorius hitting. With injuries aplenty in the bowling ranks, New Zealand need their Big Two Southee and Trent Boult leading the way strongly in pursuit of the coveted ODI and test series double over the powerhouse South Africans.