NPR

Kiwias wrote: Mon Feb 21, 2022 1:14 am Boult is not back into the side so the BCs will have the same squad as the 1st test.

Guy Smiley wrote: Sun Feb 20, 2022 7:34 pm They had 10 days managed isolation which offers an ideal environment to manage the jetlag transition even if the idea of being limited in your movements is onerous...

they could still get out and train in small groups. They weren't confined indoors. I think we can all appreciate that travel is more demanding than it was before Covid, especially with regard to entering NZ and Australia, but there's a point where that becomes an excuse.

Credit to NZ Cricket for embarking on a systematic change to ground prep and training over the last few years that has resulted in the development of players able to cope with conditions away from our traditional slower wickets while improving our discipline and teamwork across the park. The Black Caps are a seriously good Test team, something that has many of us a little perplexed after years of mediocrity. We still see inconsistencies... they were cleaned up by Bangladesh just a few weeks back for instance...

you were beaten by a good team. How they go in the second test will be fascinating to see.

It took two and half days to travel from South Africa to Christchurch and the squad immediately entered a ‘hard’ MIQ (Managed Isolation and Quarantine) establishment. For the first three days it was solitary confinement in their rooms before a couple of ‘blue sky’ breaks for the next three days and then limited training in small groups, which is of very limited value, especially before a Test match.

If jet-lag is to be tackled head-on, the first three days are vital. You need to force yourself to stay awake during the day and avoid the temptation to speak to family and friends at 2:00am. I know how hard that can be. The SA players were trapped in their rooms by themselves. They would have slept when they were tired and Facebooked when they were awake. I know how easy that can be.

Practically, preparation for the first Test consisted of three days of nets. Physically and mentally it was worse than that. On four previous tours to New Zealand I struggled more than most with jet-lag and the time difference. Even after a fortnight there was an issue with reflexes and clarity of thought – which most travellers can brush off and get away with, especially when your only participation in elite sport is to describe it on the radio. But when you’re in the thick of it, you have no chance. We hear all the time about elite sports contests being decided by the ‘one-percenters.’

Rinkals wrote: Mon Feb 21, 2022 5:08 amLook, I understand how it looks as though we are looking for excuses, but let's face it, this is a decent team who have just beaten India (albeit on home soil), who have failed to get a hundred in the first innings and then barely scraped over that in the second innings, in the meanwhile conceding over 450 runs in double quick time. Ireland would have given you more of a game.

Let's wait until after the second test, and, if you win as easily as you did here, then I will concede that we are as crap as Sards and Oom claim.

Guy Smiley wrote: Mon Feb 21, 2022 5:26 am You could have just said something like...


'yeah, NZ are a very good team and losing to them is no end of the world disaster, especially after the rigors of travel'...

but nope. It's still all about SA being bad.

Gumboot wrote: Mon Feb 21, 2022 5:32 am

Rinkals wrote: Mon Feb 21, 2022 5:08 amLook, I understand how it looks as though we are looking for excuses, but let's face it, this is a decent team who have just beaten India (albeit on home soil), who have failed to get a hundred in the first innings and then barely scraped over that in the second innings, in the meanwhile conceding over 450 runs in double quick time. Ireland would have given you more of a game.

Let's wait until after the second test, and, if you win as easily as you did here, then I will concede that we are as crap as Sards and Oom claim.

Strange wee civil war you guys are waging, but at least we can all agree that for now the Proteas are crapper than the Craps.

Gumboot wrote: Mon Feb 21, 2022 5:32 am

Rinkals wrote: Mon Feb 21, 2022 5:08 amLook, I understand how it looks as though we are looking for excuses, but let's face it, this is a decent team who have just beaten India (albeit on home soil), who have failed to get a hundred in the first innings and then barely scraped over that in the second innings, in the meanwhile conceding over 450 runs in double quick time. Ireland would have given you more of a game.

Let's wait until after the second test, and, if you win as easily as you did here, then I will concede that we are as crap as Sards and Oom claim.

Strange wee civil war you guys are waging, but at least we can all agree that for now the Proteas are crapper than the Craps.

Enzedder wrote: Mon Feb 21, 2022 6:29 am

Gumboot wrote: Mon Feb 21, 2022 5:32 am

Rinkals wrote: Mon Feb 21, 2022 5:08 amLook, I understand how it looks as though we are looking for excuses, but let's face it, this is a decent team who have just beaten India (albeit on home soil), who have failed to get a hundred in the first innings and then barely scraped over that in the second innings, in the meanwhile conceding over 450 runs in double quick time. Ireland would have given you more of a game.

Let's wait until after the second test, and, if you win as easily as you did here, then I will concede that we are as crap as Sards and Oom claim.

Strange wee civil war you guys are waging, but at least we can all agree that for now the Proteas are crapper than the Craps.

I expect to see them bounce back - a bit like we did against the Bangladeshis. We were also underdone at home for that first test.

Rinkals wrote: Mon Feb 21, 2022 5:08 am Let's wait until after the second test, and, if you win as easily as you did here, then I will concede that we are as crap as Sards and Oom claim.

OomStruisbaai wrote: Thu Feb 24, 2022 7:09 am 2nd Test starting tomorrow. Look like Markram will lose his place. Not sure if I that will be good to bring on newbie Rickelton. Surely Maharaj must be back.

Gumboot wrote: Fri Feb 25, 2022 1:24 am http://cricfree.live/live/bt-sport-3

Enzedder wrote: Fri Feb 25, 2022 3:55 am I started watching this 5 minutes ago at 195 for 1

Nek minnit 199-3

Gumboot wrote: Fri Feb 25, 2022 5:27 am Very much SA's day. They can't lose the test from here.

Kiwias wrote: Fri Feb 25, 2022 3:57 am

Enzedder wrote: Fri Feb 25, 2022 3:55 am I started watching this 5 minutes ago at 195 for 1

Nek minnit 199-3

Hang around for a bit longer now you're here

Enzedder wrote: Fri Feb 25, 2022 6:31 am

Kiwias wrote: Fri Feb 25, 2022 3:57 am

Enzedder wrote: Fri Feb 25, 2022 3:55 am I started watching this 5 minutes ago at 195 for 1

Nek minnit 199-3

Hang around for a bit longer now you're here

I couldn't feeling crap so went in search of a test.