New Zealand Team For Dunedin

New Zealand have named a squad of thirteen for the first Test against South Africa which starts on Wednesday at Dunedin. Despite the return of Test only players such as Ross Taylor, Daniel Vettori and Chris Martin, the plastering NZ has been receiving during the second half of their summer at the hands of the South Africans, doesn't look to be lightening off with the start of a three Test series. The Kiwis have managed only one win against the South Africans - the first T20 at Wellington - and have lost everything since in a fairly difficult month.

Jesse Ryder weighed
down by demons

A large part of that difficulty was another unnecessary incident with Jesse Ryder at the centre of it. Nursing a split webbing on his hand and with only a duck to show for his day out in New Zealand's loss in the 2nd ODI in Napier, Ryder left the team accommodation with rookie Doug Bracewell, who was also injured (hamstring). Team protocol dictates that injured players are not allowed to be away from the team accommodation or training facilities without authorisation. Apparently not content to break the rules, Ryder got into a verbal confrontation with a patron of the hotel they ended their night at.

He is such a liability for New Zealand cricket. There is no doubting his natural ability to strike a cricket ball sweetly, making him a potential game breaker in any form, from shortest to longest but his potential comes at a cost. He's a big man and on the field, when not tuned in, there is no hiding his mental waywardness. Off the field, he is a disaster looking for a bar. This latest indiscretion is only the most recent of a series of similar events, almost all related to drinking. Many of the senior players have had enough, especially as this latest escapade dragged a previously squeaky clean Bracewell into the frame for punishment. Both players were dropped from the final ODI at Auckland. Harmony and team morale, already stretched by the build up of losses, deepened with the news of the latest incident.

Whilst comparisons with Australia most recent "wild child" Andrew Symonds are inviting, there are key differences, mostly importantly that Symonds was a far better player. It was his success which made Australian authorities slow to respond in the early stages of Symonds "spirited" behaviour and in the end, that cost the player and his country dearly. There is no question mark over the need for standards. These guys are professional sportsmen and if they can't accept the responsibilities which are part of the contract, then move over, because there is another kid who wants your spot.

The deeper, more concerning problem is that most, if not all of these troubled cricketers have underlying mental health issues which drive their behaviour. Alcoholism is often mentioned. Years ago, Ricky Ponting supposedly "went dry" after a series of alcohol fuelled night club incidents ended with his nose bent, his eye black and his dignity in a King Cross gutter outside the Bourbon and Beefsteak Bar. Drinking to excess is a symptom, not the problem. Failure to recognise the need for mental health intervention or hiding from the fact it takes place, does nothing to help the players involved. Many of the games greatest performers have been bipolar, for instance. They are capable of the most remarkable feats but can also sink to dreadful, self-destructive lows. Some players, including England's Marcus Trescothic, have been courageous in their frankness about the problems depressive cycles cause sportsmen who have so much more expected of them than taking wickets or scoring runs.

Rather than cut Ryder loose, some healing and clever management might give him a better sense of worth and deliver a potent weapon for NZ cricket.

None of which works in the short term and Ryder won't appear at Dunedin.

Ross Taylor - 122 in his last Test dig

Ross Taylor returns to captain the side after six weeks on the boundary after going whammy with a hammy at the end of a century against Zimbabwe back in late January. So much depends on his batting being consistent and that focus deepens in Dunedin with the absence of Dean Brownlie who was left out as his fractured finger heals. Brownlie looked the goods earlier in the summer against Australia. Martin Guptil and Brendon McCallum will open for the kiwis, followed by Kane Williamson, Taylor and probably Rob Nicol on debut. All of which looks rather fragile in the light of the potential bowling attack for South African. In fact, you have to wait until Daniel Vettori at six before you see any thoughts of resistance in a crisis. Bradley-John Wattling replaced Reece Young behind the sticks against Zimbabwe, returning to Tests to make an unbeaten hundred and take four second innings catches as Chris Martin bagged six and the Kiwis won by an innings and about six million. On match eve, Wattling is struggling with a hip injury and Kruger van Wyck has been placed on standby. If he plays, he'll continue the trend started in England but also adopted in Australia, of picking South Africans. Should be an interesting combination of vowel sounds behind the wicket.

Chris Martin will lead the Kiwi attack and has already been talking up the series as a battle of the seamers. In his mind, the clash for wickets between he and Dale Steyn will decide the series. Well, at least he isn't talking up his batting! Bracewell will play, as he is New Zealand's best bowler, which leaves two other seamers to pick. Like their counterparts across the Tasman, the Kiwi selectors will fancy left arm pace against the Graeme Smith's batting line up, so the youngster Tim Boult will earn a spot partially through physiology but in fairness, he hasn't done anything wrong in his only Tests against the Aussies in Hobart or Zimbabwe at Bulawayo. That leaves the last spot between the old man Brent Arnel (33) who is not even on contract with New Zealand anymore, Andrew Ellis, who would add starch to number 8 but would be a liability against this opposition with the ball, or Tim Southee. Southee is the most experienced of the trio and is likely to get the spot. Maybe its his age (23) but he just hasn't learned how to bowl on the tight lengths and lines required in Test cricket and any weakness will be confronted with extreme prejudice.

Dan Vettori

Vettori will provide a third of the overs whilst the pacemen rotate about the other end. His bowling is as interesting as Meryl Streep in "Out Of Africa" ... very clever, no doubt ... a well crafted, accurate rendition of the required plot ... never giving anything away unless he wants to ... but never the less, as exciting as afternoon tea with three great aunts and the vicar. When Vettori bowls, wickets don't fall and runs don't get scored. He's great bloke to have bowling when you are trying to explain cricket to an American because the same thing happens again and again and again. He'll bowl 39 overs and take 3-78 and make no difference at all.

thecricketragics will look at South Africa in detail tomorrow but suffice to say, its looking awfully like a South African whitewash. Martin may be right. The wet summer and the sporting wickets may lead to many wickets tumbling but in those circumstances, you'd fancy  the opposition's top six over the home side.