Wellington Test Preview

Daniel Vettori feels the success of the entire summer hinges on this test. Hmm, I don't know if I'd go that far, but it can't be denied the rampaging South Africans have taken the gloss off (what was shaping up as) a good season for us.

In a belated effort to bolster the batting, Dean Brownlie and Daniel Flynn have returned to play as no.6 and opener respectively. I fear it's just asking too much of them; Flynn is not a regular opener and has been scoring his runs from no.5 for Northern Districts, while Brownlie is coming into the side on the back of an injury and all of one first class game to take on a fearsome bowling attack. Still, I'm glad to see Flynn back in the mix (especially since Jesse Ryder's future is uncertain) and I wouldn't judge him on this test alone if he were to fail.

Bringing in the two extra batsmen considerably weakens the bowling though. The "four seamers plus Vettori" formula was identified as our best chance of winning tests, but the underperforming top order has made that plan redundant for now. It's tough on Trent Boult, who looks likely to drop out for the second game in a row. My feeling is NZ need Vettori to fire with both bat and ball if they're to win the test; even if the batting unit fires it'll be a task keeping up with the Saffers, and bowling-wise, the team seems to be a lot better when Dan is at his best - something we haven't seen in a long while.

The South Africans are playing the same lineup for the third test in a row, a sure sign that the team is in a good place. The batting has been patchy, but they've always found someone to haul them out of the woods when needed; AB De Villiers was under an injury cloud in the last test, and rescued them in the first innings with 83. As for the bowling, they have resisted the temptation to give Marchant de Lange a game, which tells you all you need to know. Graeme Smith, who rarely has much good to say about New Zealand cricket, looks determined to finish the tour with a crushing win, and if NZ are to win, I doubt it'll be with any help from the Saffers.

The Basin Reserve pitch is usually an excellent cricket wicket and always has something in it for the pacemen. But with persistent rain in Wellington, the groundsman hasn't had much time to work with, and not much can be predicted about the surface this time. A draw on account of the weather is very much a possibility.

One final thing: this could well be Chris Martin's last home test, if not his very last test. If that is the case, here's hoping he finishes things in grand style.