Ross Taylor. Photo / Getty images
New Zealand are already in a poor position after just 42 overs on the first day at the Basin Reserve, when our inexperienced pace bowlers proved unable to repeat their fine deeds of earlier in the test season.
Doug Bracewell and Mark Gillespie were all over the place and as
a consequence, Ross Taylor had to alter what would have been his bowling plans against South Africa.
I don't expect to see a conservative response from Taylor today though, because his cricketing instincts are aggressive, and he will be desperate to square the series. South Africa's 1-0 lead must influence his thinking.
New Zealand may have to take risks in order to get themselves into a position where they have a chance to win and from what I know of Taylor he will do that. Test wins against the major countries are rare and precious for New Zealand and Taylor has a strong appreciation of where we have come from over the past couple of decades.
So the pressure will go back on Bracewell and Gillespie this morning and there's no reason why they can't repeat their stunning efforts against Australia and South Africa. They are inexperienced at this level and it showed on day one. Whereas the great players produce time after time and in any conditions, the lesser lights just aren't as reliable. But those two still have top performances in them and of course Chris Martin must show them the way.
