Dell: "@Ben Butler avgs 37 compared to De kock's 44 "

Aditya: "@Ben: Not taking anything away from Buttler, he comes down at no. 5 or 6. So there is high chance that he remains not-out and smashes at a faster rate. De Kock is easily the consistent and best wicket-keeper batsman" Because of their roles, it does seem a bit harsh to compare them. Buttler often has to finish an innings, or chase down runs with the tail. It's hard doing those things. And de Kock, equally, has to set an innings up

Slip added now

Double-change with Colin de Grandhomme coming on, to try and exploit a slowish pitch at Westpac

Mark ups the sarcasm quotient, big time: "Hey, why are we only talking about the SA batsmen? Trent Boult is just 28 away from 500 test runs. Just saying. Also, @ Shay - the start hasn't been South Africa's problem. It's what happens in the middle and later overs that has been shaping these games."

Ben: "There are a few good wk/batsmen in ODI nowadays. De Kock has easily the most runs, but Butler has a slightly higher average and a higher SR."

First change for New Zealand as Lockie Ferguson comes on

Shay: "Seeing off 8/20 overs from NZ two strike bowlers, @5 per over. 40% job done. All stats this beautiful game... "

"Is Q De Knock the best Wicketkeeper Batsman in ODIs right now? A year ago it was a battle between Sanga and Dhoni. Now things have been changed recently" He has my vote, Sethu

Arka: "Why talk about # or quinny? AB is only 5 runs away from 9000 runs" Right, let's just say South Africa are a kinda awesome batting side and more on

Hari: "Hi Al. Why talk about QDK only. Mighty # is only 171 runs away from 7000 ODI runs !! Go #"

Slip and short midwicket in place

Graeme Neely: "im getting the worrying feeling that the Black Caps may have poked the bear by just beating SA a few days back"

Trent Boult from the other end

Deep square leg going back

Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock are South Africa's openers. Tim Southee to charge in with the new ball

Venkat: "QDK is @ #11 in all time run getters list for WK's in ODI's just behind Taibu. The difference between Taibu & QDK is 113. Can QDK break into Top 10 in this match? Also he has racked up 12 Tons in ODI's as WK so far which is third best just behind Gilly (16) and Sanga (23)."

farhan: "I was about to leave office then got notification on ESPN cricinfo app that the match is about to start.. Better to stay in office and watch Hash & De kock hitting NZ hard. P.S. everyones left from office for weekend, staying back alone like a boss!"

"Hi Al, from South Africa here please confirm how's the weather there" We expect no interruptions, Siya.

1.50 pm It's never quite a cricket match without people grumbling about selections. So here's Lee making things official: "How on earth is Wayne Parnell selected ahead of Chris Morris? Morris is superior with both bat and ball."

sabbir: "Good morning Al. Can you please describe about the pitch and decent probable score for SA?" We hear it's a belter. For context, the last time there was an ODI at Westpac Stadium, New Zealand put up 281 and couldn't defend them. With that said, the new ball does jag around. Tim Southee took a seven-for here in the World Cup in 2015.

Joey: "Talking about that Southee 7-for, it wasn't the new ball that got the wickets for Southee. While it was due to swing, the wickets came in rapid succession in his 2nd spell."

1.30 pm South Africa win the toss and decide to bat. Kagiso Rabada's back, as expected, meaning Chris Morris has to make way. New Zealand also make a change, sitting Ish Sodhi out and opting for the pace of Lockie Ferguson.

1.20 pm So now that the indulgences are done, Kagiso Rabada should return for South Africa, after sitting out the last game with some kind of a niggle. There's been questions hovering over the workload he has had to go through, playing all three formats and taking on the mantle of attack leader in the absence of Steyn, Morkel, Philander etc. Speaking of whom, Big Morne's gonna be back, yo. He's recovered from an injury that doctors said would end whole career and he's about to lace his boots again and play Test cricket, the hardest challenge there is in this sport.

Tom Latham would wish those were the problems he was facing, but he's in the middle of a little trough. Couldn't have come at a worse time with Martin Guptill also injured, and considering he is an opener, it's a doozy of a headache. Latham is a fine player, a correct, composed batsman who can drop anchor as well as anyone in the world. He should come through. In better news, Adam Milne has been progressing nicely as he rehabilitates from - what injury was it now, he's just had way too many. Despite that, though, he says he will not give up on bowling like the wind in Wellington.

Elsewhere in the world, it was ESPNcricinfo awards night. The best in the business were recognised and rewarded in all forms of both the men's and women's game. South Africa feature rather heavily in the list of awardees, with Quinton de Kock's 178 being declared the best one day innings played in 2016. Course, Ben Stokes' 258 - rated the best in Tests - and Sunil Narine's six-for - best ODI bowling performance - came against them. Representing New Zealand, the offspinner from their women's team Leigh Kasperek took home the honours for her three-for against Australia in the World T20. Course they were on the receiving end too, they lost five wickets to Mustafizur Rahman in the World T20, and that took the trophy for best Twenty20 bowling.

1.05 pm Dooooood, didja hear what happened in Christchurch? No? You missed it? Oh come on. Okay, anyway. First, Ross Taylor was like, "haha, that's the record, baby" and then South Africa were like "we're gonna flop around, just for fun, and then scare you with our latest secret weapon, Dwaine P". Boy, did he ever put on a show. Fifty outta nowhere. And then, oooh hooo hooo, and then, came Trent Boult with his trusty six-shooter and that was the game. Course, I missed the whole thing too cause I just had to get sick. But now I'm back and this epic season of cricket in New Zealand rolls on. The series is tied 1-1 and there's plenty of action coming your way from Wellington.