TESTING QUESTIONS FOR THE FIRST TEST
1. Mitchell Santner got the nod over Ajaz Patel. Is there any chance he plays in this series?
Mark Geenty: There is a chance, and is more likely at Bay Oval where he had his best test against England at a ground that can suit spin later. With this pitch sure to be prepared to suit the New Zealand pace attack, and Daryl Mitchell a better batsman and capable of bowling in a holding role, there’s no need to change the successful formula of Hamilton and Wellington. recent years and a spinner is unlikely to be needed there, but Santner did prove useful in Bay Oval’s first test, taking three second-innings wickets in the win over England last November. The smartmoney’s on them sticking with a winning lineup – apart from welcoming skipper Kane Williamson back.
Aaron Goile: No. Unless groundsmen Jared Carter and Rupert Bool, at Bay Oval and Hagley Oval, respectively, get funky with their mower and roller, we should expect similar pitches to those in Hamilton and Wellington for the West Indies series. That means the Black Caps can run with the fourprong pace attack (and Daryl
Mitchell, who offers more batting than Santner) once more.
2. Pakistan batsmen Babar Azam and Imam ul-haq and all-rounder Shadab Khan have been ruled out of the first test. In their absence, who will be theirmost important player?
MG: Azhar Ali. Approaching veteran status at 35, with a test average of 43 including 17 centuries, Azhar will be looked to as the batting anchor in tough foreign conditions.
AV: Azhar Ali will have an important role to play as the likeliest player to produce a big total for the tourists, but don’t sleep on legspinner Yasir
Shah. The last time the Black Caps lost a home test, in 2017, it was a visiting spinner, South Africa’s Imran Tahir, that ran through them.
AG: Has to be Azhar Ali, the No 3. They’ve got some handy bowlers, Pakistan, but they’re going to need someone to be able to hold a bat and provide some sort of resistance against the Black Caps pace attack.
3. What is your series prediction?
MG: Unless there’s prolonged rain in Christchurch, it’s 2-0 Newzealand. Pakistan will be tougher than West Indies but very little has gone right for them, and with their best player Babar Azam touch and go to play any part in the series that pushes their odds out even further. The Black Caps’ four-pronged pace attack will again be too relentless and if India’s powerful batting lineup struggled in February, it’s difficult to see Pakistan’s doing much better. AV: With key players injured, it’s hard to see Pakistan stopping the Black Caps, especially with the fourpronged pace attack all firing. A2-0 win is the most likely scenario.
AG: Only adverse weather will stop them rolling Pakistan 2-0. The tourists haven’t shown great signs in the Twenty20s and losing skipper Babar Azam is amajor blow. The Black Caps seamers are just too hot to handle in home conditions. after getting their work done early.
Ross Taylor would probably like some runs, in what will be a recordbreaking 438th appearance for New Zealand across all formats, as would Tom Blundell – they were the only batsmen to bat in both innings and not pass 40 – but for the most part this is a settled side at the top of their game.
Seamers Trent Boult, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee and Neil Wagner all had their moments against the West Indies and Southee enters this test needing four more wickets to join Sir Richard Hadlee and Daniel Vettori as the third New Zealander in the 300-wicket club.
Bigger questions arise when you consider what Pakistan will be able to muster, without captain Babar Azam, batsman Imam-ul-haq and all-rounder Shadab Khan, who are all sidelined with injury. Azhar Ali will be the prize wicket and if he goes cheaply, so might his team.
There were moments when the West Indies had a chance to seize control in both their tests, especially on the first day in Wellington, where Henry Nicholls lived a charmed life, but they failed to grab them.
If those moments arise for Pakistan – and there’s no knowing whether they will – they can’t let them slip.
More than 5000 tickets are believed to have been snapped up for day one at Bay Oval, which is hosting its second test match – and its first starting on Boxing Day, at a time of year when holidaymakers flock to the region.
As the Black Caps pursue their third test win of the home summer and that ticket to Lord’s next June, they should have no shortage of support.
DYNAMICDUOPAGE