South Africa promised to throw the first punch as part of the new approach to Test cricket and they did. But they didnt land nearly as many as would they have wanted as they staggered through the first day of their first Test in seven months sans a major contribution from anyone in the line-up.It may have been a little easier for South Africa to stomach where they sit now had New Zealands attack been a little more aggressive. Although Trent Boults bowled two threatening spells, Tim Southee found movement and Neil Wagner got his short ball going, New Zealand were not a constant threat. In their attempts to assert themselves, South Africa brought on their own demise to some extent and will have to find other ways of being forceful upfront.With an overhead cloud, warm air and two of the best swing bowlers on the circuit, Southee and Boult, to face, Faf du Plessis made his first statement of intent when he chose to bat. Conventional wisdom still favours putting runs on the board before allowing the opposition to, but with South Africa, by their own admission scarred from last summer and specifically their tour of India in which only AB de Villiers - not playing this series because of injury - crossed the fifty mark, it was a brave decision.The first ball drew the immediate gasps of the few hundred people in the ground when it seemed to swing violently. Stephen Cook looked to play to square leg but his outside edge ended up bobbling through gully. But the ball had not danced around a corner, Cook was just early on the shot. Thats not to say there was no movement. Southee found enough to keep the openers watchful but it was Trent Boult who properly challenged them, with deliveries that moved late.Picture a puppy whose owner teases him by pretending to throw a ball. The puppy cranes his neck, even begins to run after the imaginary object, only to find that the ball is still in the mans hand. Dean Elgar was that puppy. Sometimes he played too late, others times he was beaten and he never looked entirely comfortable.Much like Graeme Smith used to, Elgar survived through will rather than technique, which only made the way he got out look worse. He allowed Doug Bracewell to tempt him into the drive twice in the over. When Bracewell did it a third time, Elgar bit again and nicked a catch to second slip.Hashim Amlas response to the loss of the two openers was to send the ball to the boundary seven times in the next five overs but its not as though New Zealand werent asking for it. Southee had offered several spank-me deliveries, often after he had strung together some better ones, and Amla spanked. Overpitched? Four. Short and wide? Four. Bracewell? Four. Four. Four.Who was this man and what had he done with the Amla who averaged less than 19 at the ground that was his home for more than a decade before he chose the Cape Town-based Cobras as his domestic team? He was a man making a statement. So was the person who decided to send in JP Duminy at No. 4, perhaps to keep the left-right hand combination going, but also to allow a man who is experienced enough to be taking more responsibility. Duminy squandered the chance. Although he looked better than he did through all of last summer, especially on the front foot, his first sign of uncertainty came when he swept in the penultimate over before lunch. A short leg was in place for that exact shot and Duminy almost played the ball into his hands. It was hardly surprising then, that Duminy fell into another trap after the break when a fine leg was waiting for a mistimed pull and, on cue, Duminy top-edged Wagner straight to the man. His shot selection would come into discussion about his future in the Test side.Duminy has now failed to pass fifty in 10 completed innings dating back to August 2014 in Zimbabwe but whether South Africa have the depth to replace him still needs to be examined. For now, Temba Bavuma has shown he can hold his own. He began in the same aggressive vein as Amla but then followed du Plessis lead and shut shop mid-way through the second session.In 14 overs before tea, South Africa eked out just 15 runs but not because New Zealand forced that on them. The bowling was not particularly miserly, Kane Williamson had spread the field and the scoreboard needed runs. Du Plessis and Bavuma showed they had perfected the leave and the block, which may come in handy on another day, but only served to stall a decent start on this one.When du Plessis innings was ended by a headline-grabber of a catch from his opposite number, he had spent an hour and 53 minutes at the crease and faced 84 balls and all he had to show for it was a demonstration of why an overly defensive approach does not always work. In this situation, the reality was that if the watchfulness did not turn into something worthwhile, it would be in danger of being a wasted effort. So it was.Quinton de Kock was never in danger of doing that. He top-edged the first ball he faced and not even the realisation that he only got away because the fielder was too square to take the catch could force him into a more conservative style of play. De Kock took advantage of a New Zealand attack that went searching with width, and played some of the shots of the day. A full-blooded drive to long-on, a carve through the covers and then two charges to drill the ball over mid-off and through midwicket off Mitchell Santner. Like Elgar, de Kock went one strike too many. The third time he ran down the pitch to Santner, he did not get the contact he wanted and skied the ball to mid-off to end an innings that could have gone on to better Amlas.So, South Africa find themselves on the ropes again, a position they are used to fighting back from. In pre-match build-up, du Plessis even went as far as to say there was a stage when South Africa were the only team around who were willing to take the time to dig themselves out of holes. They did not want to have to call on that skill but they have left themselves no choice. If things are to go their way in the rest of this Test match, they will have to counterpunch. Wholesale Texans Jerseys China .C. -- When North Carolina freshman Ryan Switzer reported to training camp in August he was a little miffed to learn he was third on the depth chart at punt returner. Senio Kelemete Jersey . -- Teemu Selanne scored the first goal of his 22nd NHL season, and the Anaheim Ducks extended the best start in franchise history with their fifth straight victory, 3-2 over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. http://www.cheaptexansjerseyssale.com/?tag=kaimi-fairbairn-jersey-sale . The visitors took a deserved lead in the 16th minute with midfielder Yohan Cabaye curling the ball beyond Adrian from inside the penalty area. Julién Davenport Jersey . The team also announced Tuesday that the Braves will wear a commemorative patch on the right sleeve during the season. The patch, shaped like home plate, carries the number 715, Aarons autograph and a "40th Anniversary" banner. D.J. Reader Jersey . "It was nerve-wracking, but we pulled through," said Collaros, who threw four touchdown passes to lead the Toronto Argonauts (8-4) to a 33-27 win over the Calgary Stampeders (9-3) in front of 28,781 fans at McMahon Stadium. INDIANAPOLIS -- Andrew Luck can see and hear the reminders of the Indianapolis Colts slow starts every day.If theres not a question being asked, he can find the gory details on tape. He might even get a lesson about the necessity of digging deficits early in games.By now, everyone in that locker room understands the message and the mission Sunday at Denver.You cant spot a team 18 points in the NFL. I hate to say spot because I dont want to take credit from what Detroit did. They obviously forced us into that situation, Luck said reflecting on last weeks loss. But you cant do it.The problem is the Colts (0-1) cant seem to avoid doing it.According to Pro Football Reference, the Colts have faced 27 double-digit halftime deficits since 2012 and somehow, theyve made the playoffs three times.Thats largely because of Lucks knack to lead his team back to victory. Fourteen times in 56 games, Luck has directed winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime -- a number that would have increased to 15 had Indys defense made a final stop against Detroit.Instead, the Colts returned to the team complex Monday, still searching for answers -- on offense and defense.We probably have to change something up or do something different, safety Mike Adams said. I dont know what we have to do to make us start fast, but we have to figure this out sooner than later.Coach Chuck Pagano made some changes at training camp .He pushed players to get at it early in practice and increased the tempo, hoping the emphasis would give them a jumpstart on Sundays.So far, the results have not changed.In four preseason games, the Colts scored only 12 points in the first half, trailed 17-3 at halftime of the two games Luck played in and found themselves in a 9-0 deficit at Buffalo.The problems continued against the Lions, who scored the first 14 points last weekend and extended the lead to 21-3 before Luck got the offense rolling.How much of a difference can a fast start make?Pagano can find the answer in Indys past three games against the Broncos (1-0).AAfter taking a 24-0 lead in the 2014 opener, Denver held on for a 31-24 victory.ddddddddddddIn a playoff rematch that season, Indy led 14-10 at the half and went on to win 24-13.Last November, in Peyton Mannings final game at Lucas Oil Stadium, the Colts led 17-7 at halftime and hung on for a 27-24 victory.We would love to see the offense put some points up early against Denver, able to move the ball early, tight end Dwayne Allen said Wednesday.It wont be easy against the defending Super Bowl champs , who still have one of the leagues fiercest defenses and most prominent home-field advantages -- playing in front a raucous crowd and in the mile-high air that can cause breathing problems for opponents.Some Indy fans are clamoring for more aggressive play calls to start games. Others think, they should go no-huddle right away.The Colts arent dropping any hints of what, or if, theyll change tactics this weekend.All Luck, his teammates and the coaches really want to see is a different result as soon as possible.Anything that scores points I am fine with, Luck said. (Offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski) does a great job of getting us in positions to be successful and make some plays.Game notes Four opening day starters did not practice Wednesday. Cornerback Patrick Robinson (concussion), safety T.J. Green (knee), outside linebacker Robert Mathis (foot) and right guard Joe Reitz (foot) all sat out. Linebacker Trent Cole (back), cornerback Vontae Davis (ankle) and safety Clayton Geathers also sat out. Geathers was excused to attend the birth of his child. ... Defensive linemen Henry Anderson (knee), Zach Kerr (foot) and Kendall Langford (knee) were limited at practice. 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