TESTING QUESTIONS FOR THE FIRST TEST
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 smart money’s on them sticking with a winning lineup – apart from welcoming skipper Kane
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 their most 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 New Zealand. 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. A 2-0 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 a major blow. The Black Caps seamers are just too hot to handle in home conditions.