Something for the weekend

Another day, another century for Martin Guptill in Zimbabwe as he steered New Zealand to a comfortable win. Guptill is in a splendid run of form, albeit against a less than top-class attack.

Meanwhile Zimbabwe's Brendan Taylor is fast making himself an overseas player who could come under consideration for part of 2012. His century today was his second in succession and he has become the most reliable component of a somewhat inconsistent line up. Given the limitation on options, Taylor could feasibly find himself in England next summer, having recently taken good runs from a decent Pakistani attack. Like Martin Guptill, he had an early reputation for getting dismissed when well set, but at a similar age he seems to have discovered greater powers of concentration coupled with improved shot selection.

Elsewhere, the South African selectors must have read my last piece as both Jacques Rudolph and Ashwell Prince have been recalled to their Test side. Confusingly, however, their muddled selection continues with Duminy, McLaren and Parnell all dropped and Vernon Philander brought in. For all their rusty struggles thus far, I think they will have too much for Australia in five-day cricket. If not, serious questions need to be asked over a bunch of players of undoubted quality who just don't seem to fire often enough.

Also omitted is Alviro Petersen, who is supposedly considering a Kolpak return to Glamorgan next summer, Marcus North already having taken his overseas berth. For a county with financial issues and at least two highly paid players in Graham Wagg and Jim Allenby, it strikes me as surprising, but maybe they are going for broke after a disappointing 2011 on and off the pitch.

That's pretty much it for tonight. Have a good weekend.