A South African dossier containing New Zealand’s batting strengths and weaknesses has been revealed just hours before the first one-day international between the two sides in Centurion.
The schedule, addressed to the South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn, was instead slipped under the door of a hotel guest, who posted it on Facebook. It details areas to bowl, how various batsmen cope with bouncers, and the best options for bowling in the final overs.
The in-form opener, Martin Guptill, is seen as vulnerable against bouncers angling in to him, while the captain, Kane Williamson, will be targeted as a batsman who does not pull well.
The all-rounder Grant Elliott, whose six at Eden Park off the penultimate ball put New Zealand into the World Cup final at the expense of South Africa in March, requires yorkers angling in late while bouncers are seen as a dot-ball option.
Both the newcomer George Worker and wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi are seen as compulsive pullers and hookers.
This is not the first time a ‘top-secret’ team dossier has inadvertently slipped into the wrong hands. The Australian team’s plans for South Africa’s batsmen was revealed on the eve of their Test series in November 2012. While some accused the former coach John Buchanan of deliberately leaking team plans others believe it was simply another case of mistaken hotel doors.
New Zealand, resting several key players, shared honours in the two-match Twenty20 series against the Proteas, losing the first by six wickets before taking a 32-run win in the second on Sunday. Steyn did not play in either match. The first of three ODIs starts on Wednesday.
Source - The Guardian