Black Caps vs South Africa Preview
Not one ODI, not two ODI's but three! That's right folks, we get three ODI's against those awesome South Africans. Three opportunities to play against a great cricket team on our own soil, to figure a few things out and take another step closer to winning the World Cup.
Let's take a look at the squad the Black Caps have rolled out. Headlined by the return of Dan Vettori, this is a very workmanlike squad for the Black Caps. No fresh faces, no contentious selections, just a whole heap of solid cricketers. Me likey.
We'll get a good insight in to the thinking of Mike Hesson with regards to a few different aspects of his team. On the bowling front, we should see Trent Boult, Time Southee and Mitchell McGlenaghan form an imposing but skillful pace trio. It's hard to see a place for Matt Henry, but they'll probably give him some game time as the games don't really mean a whole lot other than a combination tester.
Having Henry and Kyle Mills there, will be a great benefit. That's the basis of a squad and we all know the importance of a deep squad especially in tournaments so expect them all to be given a run but I'm leaning towards a top tier bowling line up of Boult, Southee, McGlenaghan and Vettori/Nathan McCullum. The most intriguing aspect will be how Jimmy Neesham and Corey Anderson will be used. If Hesson plays both of these lads, but bats them down the order then someone will have to make room for them. There's no real point in playing Neesham and Anderson if they are going to bat 6 and 7 in front of Vettori/McCullum at 8, Southee at 9, Boult at 10 and Mitch at 11.
My mindset is to open in test matches with Neesham, so of course I wanna see him up the order and that's probably what we'll see in the 50 over stuff. To fit Anderson and Neesham in, you either need to slide one of them up the order or hope that they can do the job of a certified seamer.
McCullum/Vettori. Interesting, very interesting. McCullum has done a great job in the past few years while Vettori is Vettori. Bloody hell, we've got options baby! I'll be watching which way Hesson is leaning, they both have great upsides so it'll be a great battle between the two for a starting spot.
Willow wielders - things should be a lot less exciting on this front. Throw Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson in to the mix and there aren't many spots up for grabs. The key man for me is Martin Guptill, he'll return in to the black jersey and if he can find some form then we've got yet another batsman capable of mass destruction.
My top batting line up would be Guptill, Neesham, Williamson, Taylor, McCullum, Ronchi, Anderson. Who else could make their mark? Tom Latham, a good series for him will see him go a long way to ensuring he's in the mix for the World Cup.
What to watch for from the South Africans? Well besides the three best pace bowlers in the world and a few of the best batsmen, Quinton de Kock. This kid is awesome and should put on a bit of a show with the bat for us ahead of the World Cup. Also there's plenty of intrigue as to who will be the main spinner for the South Africans, JP Duminy has enjoyed a lovely return to form in international cricket with the bat and his off spin tweakers so he'll offer some options. Imran Tahir and Aaron Phangiso will be battling it out for the number 1 spin spot with Rilee Rossouw in the mix as well.
This series isn't about match ups, who's gonna get the better of who and who emerges victorious. It's about finding out who is demanding selection and what combinations are working. It's well before Christmas so there should be plenty of juicy moisture in the wickets for the bowlers which will make it an interesting contest with the bat.
Man to watch? Mike Hesson. Grab ya notepad and start to build your own picture of what Hesson's thinking in terms of the make up of his best 11 soldiers.