Stadium: Eden Park, Auckland
Form Guide:
Pitch:
Batsmen have found runs hard to come by in the recent games on this slow surface despite the short straight boundaries on offer.
Weather:
Light showers are expected in the morning but it is unlikely to affect the day-night game as clear skies have been forecast for the later part of the day.
PROTEAS VENTURE INTO UNKNOWN TERRITORY
South Africa batsman David Miller believes his side are ready for a journey into the “unknown” when they face New Zealand in a World Cup semi-final in Auckland tomorrow.
Since being allowed into cricket’s showpiece event in 1992 ahead of the collapse of apartheid, South Africa have failed to get past the semi-final stage on three occasions and are still awaiting a maiden World Cup final appearance.
New Zealand’s record is even worse, with the Black Caps having lost all six of their previous World Cup semi-finals.
Yet it is the Proteas who carry the unwanted tag of ‘chokers’, a label they went some way to removing with a thumping nine-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the quarter-finals – South Africa’s first victory in the knockout phase of any World Cup.
“It’s something that’s the unknown,” said Miller yesterday of the prospect of playing either Australia or defending champions India, who meet in the second semi in Sydney on Thursday, in the March 29 final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
“It’s a very exciting time. In eight days we could be world champions but it’s just one step at a time, take things slowly as they come,” Miller added.
Better known as a rugby venue, the ground’s short straight boundaries were expected to lead to a glut of fours and sixes during the World Cup.
However, Eden Park has staged two low-scoring thrillers during the tournament – New Zealand’s one-wicket win over fellow co-hosts Australia and Pakistan’s 29-run defeat of South Africa.
Nevertheless, the big-hitting Miller is aiming to cash in any way he can. “It’s the first World Cup for me and it’s a dream come true. To play a semi-final is going to be out of this world. It’s actually a privilege to be in that position.
“Hopefully, I can mishit a few straight sixes,” he said. “That’s just the way the field is and it’s cool to be playing on it.”
The 25-year-old Miller, appearing in his first World Cup, started the tournament with a career-best 138 not out in a win over Zimbabwe in Hamilton.
The left-hander has made two subsequent 40s, but he fell for a duck at Eden Park during the loss to Pakistan in pool play.
However, Miller said he hoped his previous experience of Eden Park would prove beneficial.
“It’s my first time in New Zealand so it’s good to have already played a game here and just to get the feel of the ground itself, the dimensions of the field,” he said.
“It’s just something to get used to and obviously the feel of the crowd. It’s going to be huge on Tuesday.”
Likely teams:
New Zealand – Brendon McCullum (C), Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Grant Elliott, Corey Anderson, Luke Ronchi (WK), Daniel Vettori, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Adam Milne, Mitchell McCleneghan.
South Africa – Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (WK), Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers (C), Jean-Paul Duminy, David Miller, Farhaan Behardien, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir, Kyle Abbott.
Stars to watch:
Trent Boult: The left-arm pacer’s ability to move the ball both ways at a fast clip poses a constant threat to batsmen as his 19 wickets in the tournament prove.
Imran Tahir: The Kiwis have not been tested much against quality spin and Tahir’s accurate leg-spinners could spell serious trouble for the hosts.
