Wisden
Tour review

South Africa v New Zealand, 2012-13

Neil Manthorp

Test matches (2): South Africa 2, New Zealand 0
One-day internationals (3): South Africa 1, New Zealand 2
Twenty20 internationals (3): South Africa 2, New Zealand 1


New Zealand celebrate their series victory, South Africa v New Zealand, 3rd ODI, Potchefstroom
After the drubbing in the Tests, no one thought New Zealand would beat South Africa in the one-day series © Associated Press
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New Zealand were always facing stiff odds against the world's top-ranked Test side, even before injuries ruled out Daniel Vettori and Tim Southee, two of their best bowlers. But when they contrived to lose their single world-class batsman because of inept management on an epic scale, they moved from outsiders to no-hopers. The crass removal of Ross Taylor from the captaincy on the tour of Sri Lanka, and his subsequent decision to sit this one out, hung over the trip like a family imprisonment. Taylor was missed during the Twenty20 series, and outrageously so during the Tests, when his teammates were bowled out for 45 at Cape Town and reduced to 62 for nine at Port Elizabeth.

So weedy did Cricket South Africa consider New Zealand, that they axed the traditional Boxing Day Test in favour of three Twenty20 internationals. They hoped to raise more TV revenue, but the move backfired when the South African Broadcasting Corporation pulled out of showing the Tests live because of financial problems. For the first time since readmission, South Africa's home Tests were not available on free-to-air state television, though the satellite channel SuperSport did show all the games.

New Zealand coach Mike Hesson maintained an embarrassed rather than a dignified silence throughout, even when a leaked letter from bowling coach Shane Bond emerged, appearing to back up Taylor's claim that Hesson had lied about wanting to keep him as captain of the Test team. New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White maintained there was "considerable variance" between Bond's account and that of other coaching staff.

Having aspired to the national captaincy for much of his career, Brendon McCullum wasn't about to let the chance slip away. He spoke with candour and - whenever possible - optimism, despite performances that were plainly unacceptable. So perhaps more people should have listened when he insisted before the one-day series that his side would be "far more competitive, because we are far more comfortable in this format and know our games so much better". Comfort and knowledge were one thing; "more competitive" sounded like pure fantasy.

The reversal could not be taken at face value, though, because most of the faces had changed. Seasoned veterans such as Kyle Mills and Grant Elliott came into New Zealand's squad, while South Africa decided to rest many of their key men. They continued to debate the future of A. B. de Villiers as wicketkeeper, in the light of his chronic back problems. He made a late decision to retain the gloves in the Tests, to the annoyance of the long-suffering Thami Tsolekile, who had been told by the selectors he would finally get a go.

De Villiers did hand them to 20-year-old Quinton de Kock for the limited-overs matches, allowing him to sit out the Twenty20s and concentrate on captaining in one-day cricket. But then de Villiers was banned for the last two games for falling six overs behind the clock at Paarl; Hashim Amla missed the same matches through injury, having already informed the selectors he would not stand in as captain any more. Suddenly, South Africa looked like an A-team.

Not only did New Zealand win the series, but they came within an outrageous scoop for six - by Ryan McLaren at Potschefstroom - of being the first team to whitewash South Africa in the 50-over format at home. It was truly an astonishing turnaround in fortunes. So low had been the nation's expectations that not a single member of the travelling press contingent stayed on after the Test series.

New Zealand arrived home with Taylor set to return for the series against England, and confront what he admitted would be a "difficult" relationship with Hesson. South Africa, meanwhile, could reflect on a double, emphatic, confirmation of what they already knew. Their Test side was the best in the world and, quite possibly, South Africa's best ever - yet, frustratingly, the limited-overs team remained anything but.

Match reports for

Tour Match: South Africa A v New Zealanders at Pietermaritzburg, Dec 18, 2012
Report | Scorecard

1st T20I: South Africa v New Zealand at Durban, Dec 21, 2012
Report | Scorecard

2nd T20I: South Africa v New Zealand at East London, Dec 23, 2012
Report | Scorecard

3rd T20I: South Africa v New Zealand at Gqeberha, Dec 26, 2012
Report | Scorecard

Tour Match: South African Invitation XI v New Zealanders at Paarl, Dec 28-30, 2012
Report | Scorecard

1st Test: South Africa v New Zealand at Cape Town, Jan 2-4, 2013
Report | Scorecard

2nd Test: South Africa v New Zealand at Gqeberha, Jan 11-14, 2013
Report | Scorecard

1st ODI: South Africa v New Zealand at Paarl, Jan 19, 2013
Report | Scorecard

2nd ODI: South Africa v New Zealand at Kimberley, Jan 22, 2013
Report | Scorecard

3rd ODI: South Africa v New Zealand at Potchefstroom, Jan 25, 2013
Report | Scorecard

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