Big Picture
In this day and time, it’s a surprise that a team can go seven months without playing international cricket. However, that’s the case with New Zealand, who played their last game in March-April 2018. They will end the drought with the three-match T20I series against the No. 1-ranked Pakistan in the UAE, the first of which will be held in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday night.
It’s not as if the players have been taking it easy though. Many of them, including Colin Munro, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor and Ish Sodhi were part of various franchises during the IPL or CPL. Also, New Zealand A were involved in a three-match T20 series in Dubai where they defeated Pakistan A 2-1. Players like Glenn Phillips, Corey Anderson and Mark Chapman were part of that team.
Even so, New Zealand were dealt a blow when Martin Guptill was ruled out of the limited-overs leg due to a calf strain. It came after they were already without their first-choice spinner Mitchell Santner, who was ruled out for nine months after his right knee problem worsened in March.
Guptill’s absence meant Phillips was rewarded for his good form in CPL 2018 and the T20s against Pakistan A. The wicketkeeper-batsman is likely to partner Munro at the top of the order, while Williamson and Taylor will complete the top four.
Sodhi is set to lead the New Zealand spin attack, and given the nature of the wickets in Abu Dhabi, he is likely to be backed by the left-arm spin of uncapped 30-year-old Ajaz Patel. Wednesday’s game can also mark Anderson’s return to international cricket, who last played for New Zealand in the 2017 Champions Trophy.
Pakistan, on the other hand, seem to have mastered the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket under Sarfraz Ahmed. They will be chasing their 11th successive series win. After demolishing Australia 3-0 recently, they have once again shown what a strong bowling attack can do even in the shortest format. While there is Hasan Ali’s pace and Faheem Ashraf’s guile, the bowlers who will test the New Zealand batsmen most are spinners Shadab Khan and Imad Wasim.
Pakistan have always had bowling riches, but in Babar Azam, they now have a batsman around whom other power-hitters can play. Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik not only lend experience and stability to the middle order, but they are also as good as any backup spinners.
Form guide
Pakistan WWWWW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
New Zealand LLLWL
In the spotlight
Babar Azam is currently the No. 1-ranked batsman in T20Is, and there is a good reason for that. His last five innings read: 50, 45, 68*, 51, 97*. During this period, he averages 103.66 with a strike-rate of 131.22. It was Babar, who held the innings together in the first T20I against Australia where Pakistan suffered a middle-order collapse and slipped from 130 for 3 to 133 for 8. While there are more experienced batsmen in the Pakistan squad, there is little doubt who the main threat is.
Colin Munro is one of the most destructive batsmen around. The left-handed opener not only has the most T20I hundreds, but his strike-rate of 163.59 is the highest for anyone with more than 500 runs in the format. However, by his own admission, he finds it difficult to spot the ball when it is turning both ways. This means it will be a fascinating battle when he faces Shadab’s wristspin; it could well decide the series.
Team news
Pakistan have stuck with the same squad that whitewashed Australia earlier this month. While they may juggle between Usman Khan and Shaheen Afridi for the role of the second seamer, there are not many changes expected from the XI that played in Dubai on Friday.
Pakistan (possible): 1 Babar Azam, 2 Fakhar Zaman, 3 Mohammad Hafeez , 4 Shoaib Malik, 5 Asif Ali, 6 Sarfraz Ahmed (capt & wk), 7 Faheem Ashraf, 8 Imad Wasim, 9 Shadab Khan, 10 Hasan Ali, 11 Usman Khan/ Shaheen Afridi
With Phillips set to open the batting, he will also keep wicket. This means Tim Seifert will have to miss out. Seth Rance may also have to wait for a chance with Anderson and Colin de Grandhomme occupying the allrounders’ spot.
New Zealand (possible): 1 Colin Munro, 2 Glenn Phillips (wk), 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Mark Chapman, 6 Corey Anderson, 7 Colin de Grandhomme, 8 Tim Southee, 9 Ish Sodhi, 10 Ajaz Patel, 11 Adam Milne/ Lockie Ferguson
Pitch and conditions
Abu Dhabi’s is not on a typical T20 wicket where batsman could hit through the line and on the up, as Australia found out when they were bowled out for 89. The average first-innings score here is 147. The forecast for Wednesday is partly cloudy with the temperature hovering around 27 degree Celsius. With the games being held at night, dew is also expected to play a role.
Stats and trivia
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Pakistan have now bowled out their opposition 30 times in T20Is. New Zealand and Australia are the next with 19 each.
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Pakistan have won 26 out of 30 matches under Sarfraz Ahmed. Their four losses came against West Indies, World XI, New Zealand and Australia.
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Colin Munro (567) and Glenn Phillips (457) were the top two run-scorers in CPL 2018.
Source: ESPN Crickinfo