NZ v SA, 2nd ODI, Mount Maunganui October 23, 2014

Southee return bolsters New Zealand

Match facts

October 24, 2014
Start time 1030 local (2130 GMT, previous day)

Big Picture

On October 21, a rusty New Zealand batting line-up paid for its impatience in the first ODI against South Africa. Two days later, Jesse Ryder scored 136 off 57 balls for Otago, dominating Ireland's World Cup preparation game. Ryder's performance came days after he met New Zealand coach Mike Hesson, who was non-committal about the batsman's return to the national side ahead of the 2015 World Cup. With Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor sidelined by injury, New Zealand are missing three of their best batsmen against South Africa, and it showed.

All three will not play the remaining two ODIs against South Africa, so the incumbent batsmen will have to assess the conditions in Mount Maunganui better and choose their shots wisely if they are to keep the series alive after Friday. New Zealand, however, will have the services of Tim Southee, who was passed fit after missing the first game because of a shoulder niggle, to add teeth to an attack that was disciplined but lacked incisiveness in the six-wicket defeat.

While batting and upsetting the concentration of South Africa's experienced batsmen were concerns for New Zealand, the visitors had fewer issues. The only time they loosened their grip on the game was when Luke Ronchi and Trent Boult shared a record last-wicket stand for New Zealand. South Africa bowled poorly at the death and after the game their captain AB de Villiers reiterated the importance of finishing games off clinically.

Unlike South Africa, whose World Cup combination appears to require only fine-tuning, New Zealand's drawing board is more cluttered. Daniel Vettori has returned, so where does he fit in? What is the ideal composition of their pace attack? Are allrounders Jimmy Neesham and Corey Anderson good enough to combine as the fifth bowler? Will Neesham cut it as opener? And what about Jesse Ryder?

Form guide

New Zealand LWWTW (Completed matches, most recent first)
South Africa WWWLW

Watch out for

David Miller v Rilee Rossouw AB de Villiers indicated choosing between the two powerful left-hand batsmen was going to be "a tough decision to make." Miller sat out of the first game because of a viral infection and Rossouw made a brisk 26. Miller is likely to get his chance in the second ODI, but South Africa bat him as a finisher lower in the order - as opposed to Rossouw at No. 4 - so his opportunity may be slimmer.

Trent Boult is not a regular starter in New Zealand's one-day side. He's played only two ODIs in the last two years. On Tuesday, however, with Southee and Mitchell McClenaghan not playing, Boult was easily New Zealand's best bowler. He swung the ball at pace, harried South Africa's top order and dismissed Faf du Plessis for his first single-digit score in 14 innings.

Team news

Southee's availability will mean a change to the bowling attack New Zealand fielded on Tuesday. Given the two spinners, Vettori and Nathan McCullum, were able to restrict South Africa, Southee could come in for Kyle Mills.

New Zealand (probable): 1 Jimmy Neesham, 2 Martin Guptill, 3 Dean Brownlie, 4 Brendon McCullum (capt), 5 Tom Latham, 6 Corey Anderson, 7 Luke Ronchi (wk), 8 Nathan McCullum, 9 Daniel Vettori, 10 Kyle Mills/Tim Southee, 11 Trent Boult

If Miller is passed fit, he could replace Rossouw. That's the only change South Africa are likely to make, despite Wayne Parnell being available for selection. Ryan McLaren is the incumbent allrounder.

South Africa (probable) 1 Hashim Amla, 2 Quinton de Kock (wk), 3 Faf du Plessis, 4 AB de Villiers (capt), 5 JP Duminy, 6 David Miller/Rilee Rossouw, 7 Ryan McLaren, 8 Vernon Philander, 9 Dale Steyn, 10 Morne Morkel, 11 Imran Tahir

Stats & trivia

  • De Villiers averages 54 and has a strike rate of 87 against New Zealand. He's scored 490 runs in 14 ODIs against them.

  • McClenaghan and Southee have both played three ODIs against South Africa. McClenaghan has six wickets at an average of 23.50 in those games; Southee has two at 84.50 apiece.

Quotes

"Anything above 250 is defendable in New Zealand. Everybody struggled at the start of their innings and built up from there. It was a pretty good wicket. It had good bounce. It had good carry and there wasn't much turn."
JP Duminy on the conditions at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui

"It's good to have that competition because it gets the best out of everyone. We're a competitive group of guys and everyone is pushing each other to do well and it's nice to have that."
Tim Southee on the number of New Zealand quicks vying for spots in the XI

George Binoy is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo

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