NZ can’t be scared of Shah
There’s respect and then there’s talking yourself into failure.
Pakistan legspinner Yasir Shah can bowl a bit. His mostrecent match figures of 14-184 clearly attest to that.
Shah got the ball to drift, drop and turn in Dubai, as New Zealand lost the second match of the series against Pakistan by an innings and 16 runs. The teams have since de-camped to Abu Dhabi, scene of the Black Caps’ four-run victory in the first test, for a mouth-watering decider.
If New Zealand’s players and staff have been asked about Shah once since Dubai, they’ve been asked a thousand times. They all acknowledge his skill and fine record in the United Arab Emirates, but the time has come to park the praise and get on with the business of batting.
The Black Caps are yet to get a good look at the Sheik Zayed Stadium pitch, ahead of day one of the third test which starts at
7pm (NZ time) today, but don’t imagine it will differ greatly to what was dished up for the first test. On that basis, batsman Ross Taylor told Radio Sport, Shah could be less effective. ‘‘The wicket’s a little bit slower so he might not get the bounce he got in Dubai,’’ Taylor said.
Shah took 3-54 and 5-110 in the first test. It was still handy, just not quite as devastating as the
8-41 he snared in the first innings in Dubai, as New Zealand collapsed from 50-0 to 90 all out.
Taylor described that as the result of a ‘‘mad three or four overs from Yasir Shah [that] turned the test on its head’’.
All New Zealand’s batsmen got starts in Dubai, without kicking on to make the score that might have staved off defeat. Taylor (82), Tom Latham (22 and 50), Jeet Raval (31), Kane Williamson (30 and 28), Henry Nicholls (77) and BJ Watling (27) all did enough to suggest Shah is not unplayable, particularly given Taylor has said the first 10 to 20 balls are when they’re all most-vulnerable.
‘‘You’ve got to be confident and trust your defence is good enough. We showed in that second innings [of 312] that we can score against him,’’ Taylor said.
It will be interesting to see if New Zealand tinker with their XI in Abu Dhabi. Colin de Grandhomme’s struggles with the bat have made him vulnerable to the axe but he’s also the kind of guy who can suddenly reel off a score of 60 or 70 at a run-a-ball. His bowling remains handy too.
Swing bowler Trent Boult has had a reasonable workload in unhelpful conditions and having the fresh Tim Southee replace him might serve New Zealand well as the season wears on.
At a glance
What:
New Zealand v Pakistan, third test
When, where:
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, day one from 7pm Monday (NZT)
New Zealand (from):
Kane Williamson (captain), Tom Latham, Jeet Raval, Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling, Colin de Grandhomme, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Will Somerville, Ajaz Patel, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult, Matt Henry, Tom Blundell.
Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Imam-ul-Haq, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Babar Azam, Saad Ali, Yasir Shah, Bilal Asif, Hasan Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Mir Hamza.
Pakistan $1.55, NZ $3.50, draw $6
Pakistan (from):
TAB odds: