New Zealand look to start afresh after Durban horror
A preview of the second South Africa-New Zealand T20 in East London
Match facts
December 23, 2012Start time 1800 (1600 GMT)
Big Picture
Being "aggressive" is easier said than done. New Zealand found out the hard way at Kingsmead on Friday. It was a risky approach from a side fielding four debutants. They wanted to make a statement with a positive approach with the bat, but by the end of nine overs, six were back in the pavilion. Brendon McCullum, the captain, admitted it was a flawed approach, and that New Zealand needed to respect the fundamentals first and earn the right to be aggressive. The cricket was of low quality, compounded by shambolic fielding. That South Africa won with 47 balls to spare only highlighted the gulf between the two sides. South Africa too went in with an experimental line-up with three debutants, but they weren't tested. With just 87 to chase, the South Africa captain-coach duo of Faf du Plessis and Russell Domingo couldn't have asked for an easier beginning to their new leadership roles.Form guide (Completed games, most recent first)
South Africa WLLLWNew Zealand LTLTL
In the spotlight
Doug Bracewell was among only three New Zealand batsmen to get into double figures on Friday, but in his primary role as a fast bowler, he had a poor outing, giving 21 off two overs before being taken off the attack. Bracewell was a familiar face in a largely unrecognisable attack, and he will need to rediscover his best.Team news
The South Africa allrounder Chris Morris limped off the field after aggravating a quad injury that has ruled him out of the two remaining games. It leaves the hosts with only 12 players to pick from, since no replacement has been named for Morris. South Africa had already decided to rotate their senior seamers in this short series, with Dale Steyn getting a break before the Tests. Morne Morkel comes in for the remainder of the series so he should take Steyn's place.Stats and Trivia
- This will be the first T20 to be held in East London.
- Of the ten completed domestic day-night T20 games at this venue, seven were won by the team batting first.
Quotes
New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum
South Africa captain Faf du Plessis
Kanishkaa Balachandran is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo