DESERT STORM
Black Caps up against it on return from wilderness
When Kane Williamson leads the Black Caps onto Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi tomorrow morning it will be nearly seven months since their last match.
Remember it? That gripping partnership between Ish Sodhi and Neil Wagner which defied England’s bowlers and clinched a test series win in the lengthening April shadows in Christchurch.
In that period since, Pakistan have played 28 times and won 12 of their 13 Twenty20 internationals, including five straight against Australia.
A team which hosts barely any internationals in its volatile home country, boasting few star players, is a clear world No 1 in T20 cricket, with New Zealand fifth. On their respective buildups, this three-match series looks a lopsided one.
Opener Colin Munro was the busiest Black Cap over their winter hiatus but in various coloured T20 shirts in India, England, the Caribbean and most recently the United Arab Emirates in the Afghanistan Premier League.
‘‘It’s a big challenge, especially in these conditions and with a few guys coming straight out of winter and not playing a lot of cricket. Obviously, those are excuses. We’re going to play our brand of cricket and hopefully it’s good enough on the day,’’ Munro said.
‘‘Everyone is coming in with a little bit of confidence. Even Corey [Anderson], who hasn’t played for the Black Caps for a while, did really well for Somerset this year. Everyone is chomping at the bit.’’
Whether that translates to upset victories on tricky pitches described as two-paced by Glenn Phillips, against Pakistan’s clever, varied bowling attack, is another matter. Australia weren’t up to it and managed totals of 89, 136-8 and 117 in their 3-0 series defeat, at the two same venues the Black Caps will grace in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
‘‘We’re quietly confident, even in these conditions. If we play well, play to our strengths and know if we play to our potential we can beat anyone on the day,’’ said Munro.
A flying start from Munro and/or Phillips – his new opening partner in the injured Martin Guptill’s absence – looks mandatory for the Black Caps to be competitive.
Phillips had two significant knocks in New Zealand A’s T20 series win over Pakistan A, then three successive ducks in the onedayers before he topscored with 48 off 36 balls in Monday’s warmup win over the UAE.
Senior swing bowler Tim Southee pronounced himself fit after recent knee trouble and will lead the attack in Trent Boult’s absence on paternity leave.
Playing at 8pm (local time) is a bonus for the tourists in the cooler evening, and Southee recalled previous success for New Zealand in the UAE. On the Black Caps’ last tour in 2014 they shared the two-match T20 series; and in both 2009 and 2014 they clinched the ODI series in the final match.
‘‘They [Pakistan] have been very consistent. They’re a strong side.The strength of our side is adapting to the conditions as quick as possible and learn from guys who have been to this part of the world and the A guys who’ve spent the last month or so here,’’ Southee said.