The advantage of being a home team is you have a better understanding of conditions than your opposition, but that may not be the case when South Africa host New Zealand next month. Kane Williamsons men will have spent a significant amount of time in the country ahead of their two-Test series, thanks to a training camp at the University of Pretorias High Performance Centre organised by former New Zealand player Kruger van Wyk.The wicketkeeper-batsman, originally from South Africa, had retired from cricket in December and returned home to take charge of the Universitys cricket program, which he himself had come through. Van Wyk has an intricate knowledge of the High Performance Centre, which is home to CSAs National Academy and hosts several other elite sports teams at its state-of-the-art facilities. He knew it would be the ideal place for New Zealand to prepare for the four Tests they play in southern Africa - two in Zimbabwe, two in South Africa - this winter.I know what its like to tour, to want to get the best preparation and I had no doubt that we could help them with that, van Wyk said. In particular, he has focussed on giving New Zealand the kinds of surfaces they will encounter in Bulawayo, Durban and Centurion, which are all expected to be slow and low at this time of year. Its important that they [the pitches] are similar to the Zimbabwe ones, similar to the ones theyll get here. As a player, whatever you need, you get. Thats our motto. Whatever you guys need, were going to give it to you and give it at a high level of professionalism as well, so I hope the boys enjoy it as well while theyre here.With New Zealands every need being met, van Wyks loyalties were a subject of discussion and he made no attempt to hide where they lie. I think its going to be an awesome series. Its very clear who I want to see do well. These are the guys who I played for, and my priorities, even though Im coaching and living in South Africa at the moment, its still with the New Zealand side, he said. Ive played Test cricket for New Zealand and Im proud of that. But I think its going to be a hell of a good series and Im so excited about seeing that and I really believe this is a good opportunity to get a double Test series victory.Key to New Zealands recent success has been their team culture, which is centered on the collective and has exuded a fun-factor for all involved. For van Wyk, that is the difference. Its been wonderful, actually. I think theres been such a new life blown into cricket in New Zealand and that was just through the culture in this side. Mike [Hesson, the coach] and Baz [Brendon McCullum] and Kane and a lot of the senior players must take massive credit for this. Theyve done some wonderful things for the image of the game and just the way theyve played as well. Thats the best way to get fans back, to get all these sorts of things back, ex-players, and their performances have been outstanding and I know it will only grow under Kane and Mike as well.That culture exists even among those, like van Wyk, who have left the New Zealand fold. As a coach, and as an ex-player, I think a lot of it is about giving back to the game, giving back to the people whove always been good to you. I am extremely thankful towards New Zealand cricket whove always been good to me and its time to give back, he said. Tukkies [University of Pretoria] was an institution that put a lot of time and effort into my development when I was a youngster here, so its the best of both worlds. Cheap Hayden Hurst Jersey .Y. - New Orleans forward Anthony Davis was chosen Friday to replace the injured Kobe Bryant in the NBA All-Star game that will be played in his home city. 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BOSTON -- Rick Porcello became the first Boston pitcher in 55 years to open a season 10-0 in Fenway Park, and Hanley Ramirez and Travis Shaw both hit a three-run homer as the Red Sox beat the Minnesota Twins 8-7 Sunday to earn a split of a four-game series.Dustin Pedroia hit a tiebreaking solo homer and Xander Bogaerts had three singles for Boston, which won its 10th time in 13 games.Juan Centeno had three hits and drove in three runs for the Twins, who completed a seven-game road trip 4-3.Porcello (13-2) allowed five runs with eight strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings, becoming the first since Don Schwall in 1961 to win his first 10 Fenway decisions in a season.Brad Ziegler got the final three outs for his first save with Boston after being acquired from Arizona earlier this month.The Red Sox surged ahead with five runs -- four unearned -- and chased Tommy Milone (3-3) in the fifth.Pedroia homered over the Green Monster. Third baseman Miguel Sano had a grounder go through his legs for an error that scored a run before Shaw belted his homer into Bostons bullpen, making it 8-3.Milone gave up eight runs -- four earned -- in 4 2/3 innings, snapping a personal three-game winning streak.The Twins scored two runs in the seventh and eighth innings, slicing it to 8-7.Ramirezs homer -- his fifth in five games -- went into the first row of Monster seats, with a fan making a nice standing, two-handed grab, to make it 3-2.The Twins tied it when Max Kepler tripled leading off the fourth before scoring on Kennys Vargas grounder.TTRAINERS ROOMTwins: C Kurt Suzuki was out with stitches in his chin after getting hit in the face mask Saturday.dddddddddddd Were trying to look at ways that we can potentially protect him if we needed to play him in an emergency, manager Paul Molitor said.Red Sox: DH David Ortiz was rested. . Manager John Farrell said CF Mookie Betts right knee was improved and we hope that by (Monday) night hes back in the lineup. Betts left Fridays game with soreness in the knee.BULLPEN HELPThe Red Sox recalled RHP Joe Kelly from Triple-A Pawtucket before the game after sending RHP Heath Hembree there following Saturdays loss.Kelly has only started since being acquired in 2014, but has pitched 52 2/3 career innings of relief with a 3.25 ERA.KEY OUTJunichi Tazawa entered with bases-loaded and no outs in the eighth. He allowed two inherited runners to score, but struck out Byron Buxton on a splitter in the dirt to end the inning.UP NEXT:Twins: Theyre off Monday before beginning a six-game homestand Tuesday. RHP Ervin Santana (3-8, 3.93) faces Atlanta RHP Lucas Harrell (1-2, 4.24) in the first of a two-game series.Red Sox: LHP Drew Pomeranz makes his second start for Boston Monday after being acquired from San Diego. 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