Kiwis Last Chance

Dean Brownlie recalled

Ross Taylor's men need to recapture the spirit which saw them beat Australia at Hobart in December if they are to have any hope of beating South Africa in Wellington in the final Test of their three match series starting in Wellington today.

To aid them, they have recalled Daniel Flynn, an ordinary mid order batsman who last played as Black Cap in 2009, averaging 28 as a middle order batsman and not scoring a hundred in 29 Test innings. On the strength of three consecutive first class centuries in the home domestic competition, he has taken Rob Nicol's opening position. Nicol's career lasted four innings but he learns the hard lesson ... when the batting fails, blame the new guy. In a sign that Ross Taylor knows where the problem lies, Dean Brownlie has been bought back into the side following injury and he'll bat at six, moving Dan Vettori and Kruger van Wyk down a spot. New Zealand always looks a strong side with Vettori at 7. This removes a seamer, so only Chris Martin, Doug Bracewell and Mark Gillespie get spot, leaving Tim Southee watching.

In truth, it won't make any difference. Ross Taylor has shown thought patterns which focus on not getting beaten - as opposed to winning - and his best defence will be the Wellington weather, with forecasts predicting lots of rain interruptions and potentially, days lost. South Africa are by far the superior side, with only Brendan McCullum and Taylor doing the business with the bat and Bracewell easily the best of the bowlers, not withstanding Gillespie's first innings effort in Hamilton. Hashim Amla, Graeme Smith and Jacques Rudolph have dominated the Kiwis and Jacques Kallis (113) and AB deVilliers (83) both strong individual innings. However, its the freakish skills of Vernon Philander that have put a gulf between the sides and he is line here to become the second fastest to 50 Test wickets in the 2037th Test since 1877.

South Africa to win if the rain stops long enough.