Story The National Bank ODI and Test Series 05-06 [C2005]

[Ajroolz2k]

NZ HOST THE NATIONAL BANK SERIES 2005-06

NZ Cricket have just announced that they will be hosting RSA (South Africa) in a full fledged National Bank Series.

The NZ Cricket Board have been proudly sponsored by The National Bank and Milo as they go into the Summer Of Cricket National Bank series with supreme confidence.

The series will consist of a Twenty20 game! 5 ODI's and 3 Test Matches with live coverage available on Sky Sports 1 and 2(check local guides for times)

Fixtures

Twenty20 Match

South Africa vs New Zealand BlackCaps (Auckland): 13th Nov 2005

ODI Series

Game 1 - SA vs NZ (Wellington)
Game 2 - SA vs NZ (Christchurch)
Game 3 - SA vs NZ (Auckland)
Game 4 - SA vs NZ (Hamilton)
Game 5 - SA vs NZ (Queenstown)

Test Series

Game 1 - SA vs NZ (Auckland)
Game 2 - SA vs NZ (Hamilton)
Game 3 - SA vs NZ (Christchurch)

 

[langerrox]

Looking forward to it mate!

 

[Ajroolz2k]

The South African Cricket Board have had no hesitations in announcing the touring squads for the various ODI's that will kick off the series. The team selectors and officials are very confident in this squad and are hoping they can bring home a series win in New Zealand.

South African Cricket Board Officials:

Coach: Mickey Arthur
Assistant Coach: Vincent Barnes
Manager: Goolam Rajah
Physiotherapist: Shane Jabaar
Fitness Trainer: Adrian le Roux
Computer Analyst: Gustav Obermeyer

The Board Officials will be joining the NZCB in New Zealand to begin the pre-season preperation. The South Africans are very keen and are hoping the pitches wont play too much of a part on the games.

The South African ODI Squad

*Graeme Smith (c)
Jacques Kallis
Nicky Boje
+Mark Boucher (wk)
Boeta Dippenaar
Herschelle Gibbs
Andrew Hall
Justin Kemp
Charl Langeveldt
Albie Morkel
Andre Nel
Makhaya Ntini
Shaun Pollock
Ashwell Prince
AB de Villiers
Andrew Puttick
Jacques Rudolph

The players have been working extremely hard and are very confident in their abilities as a team. They are looking forward to the series in New Zealand.

 

[Ajroolz2k]

The New Zealand Cricket Board has done their homework, and looking at the South African team and the pitch conditions here in New Zealand, they've put together a squad of 15 players that will be participating in the ODI's here.

The selectors and squad managers claim that the team has done exceptionally well in previous encounters and will definately live up to the standards and expectations of fans and International Cricket and definately promise an interesting and intense challange.

The NZ ODI Squad will be lead by Stephen Fleming.

New Zealand ODI Squad

*Stephen Fleming (c)
Daniel Vettori
Andre Adams
Nathan Astle
Shane Bond
James Franklin
Hamish Marshall
James Marshall
+Brendon McCullum (wk)
Craig McMillan
Kyle Mills
Jacob Oram
Jeetan Patel
Scott Styris
Lou Vincent

 

[Ajroolz2k]

The Two Captains Analyse the Season

On arrival to Auckland, New Zealand on the 9th of November 2005, a keen South African team looks fired up and all ready to kick start the series with the Twenty20 game that will be held on Saturday 12th November.

Upon arrival the Proteas were personally driven by the friendly New Zealand team to their hotel and the two teams socialised at Eden Park in Auckland. The two teams were greeted by the kindest of staff and also the South Africans were "caught" commenting on the "extremely wonderful food"!

This has already prooved to be an honest and humble start to the season but the two captains were already getting down to business as we find Danny Morrison catch up with the two teams at practice on the following day. The BlackCaps using the Outer Oval as their training grounds, have kindly "donated" the priveledges of the 2nd pitch in the main oval here at Eden Park. Danny Morrison caught up with the two captains earlier in the day, here is a little bit from Eden Park. "Go on Danny".

Danny Morrison: Hey Graeme. How are you doing? And what do you think about the atmosphere here in New Zealand?

Graeme Smith: Well, its wonderful. Nothing more to say. Im absolutely impressed with the service, staff and also the New Zealand team for being so hospitable.. our players are just thinking, what can we do for them when they visit.

Danny Morrison: The players i can see, are training extremely hard. What are you're motives as you go into this series?

Graeme Smith: We're definately looking on the bright side of things. Positive mentality and we're really looking forward to the "slog" this weekend. It'll be interesting to see the role the pitches play in this series and so far they're looking good.

Danny Morrison: Well thank you Graeme. Good luck with the series ahead.

Graeme Smith: Thanks Danny.

Danny Morrison: There you have it, a very fired up captain and team looking ahead of things. Back to you David.

 

[aussie1st]

Fleming wonders where Cairns is.

 

[woosaah]

cairns been dropped fair enough

 

[MWaugh]

interesting series. go the proteas. good luck mate

 

[Johann]

Looking forward to this! Nice presentation so far

 

[Ajroolz2k]

Ah but i think il be using paint for the games lmao :P coz i dunno where to get a full version of Photoshop from haha.. and yeh.. anywayz exams in 2 weeks, will be playin a lot after that.. maybe a game every 2 days even (3 months holidays) woohoo

 

[brettLee]

all the best

 

[Ajroolz2k]

Thanks alot.. even if i had photoshop, i dont think i can use it lol

 

[aussie1st]

I'm sure you can make a good presentation with Paint!

 

[Ajroolz2k]

The Two Teams Arrive at Eden Park (Auckland)

The South African and New Zealand teams have just arrived at the venue where the first Twenty20 gamed will be played to kick off the National Bank ODI series.

New Zealand has gone in with an orthodox batting lineup and seem to be confident that they can take it up a notch while playing a short version of the game. The only change is that Jacob Oram has been brought back into the side after suffering a few months of no cricket due to his back injury.

Jacob Oram says "Well, ive come this far and its about time that I get back into the action. Although we're playing against one of the top sides I'm still going to give it my all and hopefully thrive with the bat and ball"

For South Africa, the aggressive Graeme Smith (captain) and AB Devilliers will be opening while Jaques Kallis will hold his position at no. 3 as South Africa are hoping he will anchor the innings and pick up some form on this tour. From number 5 (Ashwel Prince) has been called in and from there on in, its an orthodox South African lineup in which Boucher might get a slight promotion if all goes well.

Herschelle Gibbs was extremely confident about the series and seems to be very keen to take it to the BlackCaps and give them a series defeat here in New Zealand.

"Well its going to be a ripper, our side has really worked mentally and physically hard and if not a few then atleast one of us are going to be ready to stand and perform. I know the pitches in New Zealand of late have been a big issue but they dont look too bad this time around and we're ready for whatever has to come."

Graeme Smith was very confident in the team and claims that it should be an extremely tough series but with their preparation, he is confident that they can take New Zealand out. We caught him in the action earlier on.

"It has been an extremely long awaited series and I'm really happy to be here and we have been working very very hard to get here. If our boys can get it together and work like a team, then im quite confident that they'll pull us through together."

 

[Ajroolz2k]

First Game of the Series (analysis): Twenty20

Welcome to Eden Park for the Twenty20 game between New Zealand and South Africa. The players are very anxious to get underway so we'll get right with it. The schedule start time is 5:30pm (Auckland Time). Martin Crow was in the middle earlier on so we'll see what him and the pitch have to say about this game today.

The Pitch - Well, its a typical New Zealand pitch. It has a lot of green grass growing on it and a hint of moisture here as we head into the night. Although it is on the greener side of things, I think the groundsman has done an excellent job as it has rained here the past couple of days and the pitch is still looking quite hard. I think a score above 140 should be very competitive here.

The Toss - Stephen Fleming has won the toss and elected to field first. It was quite an important toss to win as the pitch will favour bowling in the first 15 - 20 ovs. I think he's made the right decision here but only time will tell.

The two captains at the time of the toss:

"Well, a tough start for us as we were really fired up and wanting to go in there and bowl New Zealand out early on, but as they say, things can't always go your way. It was an important toss to win but this will be a real test for our boys and myself as we'll have to face the swinging new ball but I'm really looking forward to it."
- Graeme Smith

"Well, we're always looking forward to bowling on a New Zealand wicket and this is no exception, its going to deliver some swing for our top line bowlers and we have also played Jacob Oram as i think he'll do very well here. Although we have won the toss, the game isn't over and I think it's going to be quite hard for us and we'll have to work hard in the field."
- Stephen Fleming