New Kiwi coach Stead has task cut out in UAE

Left-arm spinner Ajaz has potential to be a surprise weapon

New Zealand will tour the UAE under the guidance of new coach Gary Stead, who succeeded Mike Hesson. The series against Pakistan in the UAE will be the first tour for Stead as coach of the New Zealand team.

Stead will be in charge of New Zealand in the 2019 World Cup and has been given a twoyear term. He had coached the New Zealand’s women’s team to the finals of the 2009 World Cup and 2010 World T20. In the light of Pakistan’s huge win over Australia in the just concluded Test series, New Zealand will be preparing very hard through intense training for the series at the ICC Cricket Academy on arrival.

Stead was an opening batsman and has played in five Tests for New Zealand but has hit two half centuries and his highest score of 78 was made against India during the 1999 series.

Stead will be faced with the challenge of shaping the New Zealand team to adapt to the UAE conditions. The pullout of star batsman Martin Guptill from the ODI and T20 series, owing to a left calf strain, is a big blow to the team.

New Zealand is hoping that their left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel, will perform strongly in UAE conditions. New Zealand will play Pakistan in T20Is, three ODIs and three Tests starting from October 31.