Who Will Win New Zealand vs Pakistan 1st Test?
The limited-overs leg of New Zealand's tour of the UAE is done and dusted with Pakistan winning the T20 international series 3-0 and drawing the ODI series 1-1. The two countries are now set to lock horns in the game's longest version. The first of the three tests will be played from November 16 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Live telecast is scheduled to begin at 10 AM local time each day of the match.
Pak vs NZ 1st Test: Where to Watch/Live Streaming
TV channels: Sony Six, Fox Sports, OSN Sports Cricket HD, SuperSport, Prime TV
Live Streaming: SonyLIV Bet365, OSN Play, Foxtel Sports
Toss Prediction
Seven out of the eleven test matches played at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium have produced results, and of those, six (including the most recently played three) have been won by the side batting first. Since bowlers are expected to get more assistance from the pitch as the match progresses, the toss-winning skipper is likely to bat first.
Read on for team previews, betting odds, betting tips and match prediction for Pak vs NZ 1st Test...
Pakistan Team News & Playing 11
PAK Team News
Pakistan have rested opening batsman Fakhar Zaman and leg-spinner Shadab Khan for the first two tests. Both are recovering from their respective injuries and are expected to rejoin the team for the final game. The hosts have called up batting allrounder Saad Ali and uncapped fast bowler Shaheen Afridi into their 15-man test squad. While the former has been picked owing to his impressive performances in domestic cricket, the latter has earned the nod of the selectors based on his current form and due to his outstanding bowling effort in the recent ODI series.
PAK Key Players
Pakistan will bank on the likes of Babar Azam, Azhar Ali and Sarfraz Ahmed to score the big runs for them in this match. Azam was among the leading run-getters in the recently concluded ODI series and he will look to carry his ODI form into test cricket. Azhar has two hundreds and seven fifties in the nine tests he has played at this ground while Sarfraz has three fifties here in six tests. Mohammad Abbas, Hasan Ali and Yasir Shah are the main threats when it comes to bowling. Abbas is the third-best test bowler in the world with 59 wickets in 10 matches and the onus will be on him and Hasan Ali to penetrate New Zealand's top-order early on. Yasir is the leading wicket-taker in tests at this ground - 31 wickets in 5 matches - and the leg-spinner is likely to trouble the visitors in both the innings.
PAK Recent Form
Pakistan have won five of their last eleven test matches and three out of the five they have played this year. They last lost a test series last year in September-October against Sri Lanka. It was a two-match series which they ended up losing 0-2. Since then, Pakistan have defeated Ireland in a one-off test match, drew 1-1 against England in England before beating Australia at home in their most recently played series.
Pakistan Predicted Playing 11
Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Hafeez, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Sarfraz Ahmed (c/wk), Bilal Asif, Mohammad Abbas, Hasan Ali, Yasir Shah
New Zealand Team News & Playing 11
NZ Team News
New Zealand have named a 15-man squad for this upcoming test series against Pakistan. Kane Williamson will continue to lead the team which also includes test regulars Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Ish Sodhi and Neil Wagner. The visitors have included uncapped left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel in their squad as replacement for Mitchell Santner who is still recovering from his knee injury. Uncapped bowling allrounder William Somerville is the latest addition to the side while Tom Blundell has been picked as cover for wicketkeeper-batsman BJ Watling.
NZ Key Players
Kane Williamson is averaging 50.35 in tests. The skipper is ranked third in the ICC test batting rankings and his ability to play the spinners well makes him the key man for New Zealand. Ross Taylor is one of the leading run-scorers for the team in this format with 6281 runs. He topped the runs charts in the ODI series and will look to start this series off with a good performance. Tom Latham is another batsman in this line-up who can frustrate the Pakistani bowlers. New Zealand's pace attack will rely heavily on veterans Tim Southee and Trent Boult who are two of the highest wicket-takers for the side in test cricket. Boult is among the world's top ten test bowlers and he is more likely to strike early with the new ball. Ish Sodhi has 38 wickets in 15 tests and he could cause problems for the hosts with his leg-spin.
NZ Recent Form
New Zealand have won five, drawn three and lost just one of their last nine test matches. Since losing to India 0-3, the Kiwis have beaten Pakistan and Bangladesh 2-0, faced defeat in a three-match home series to South Africa before getting the better of the West Indies and England at home. In their previous series against England, New Zealand won the opening game by an innings and 49 runs and then drew the second game to win the series 1-0.
New Zealand Predicted Playing 11
Jeet Raval, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson (c), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling (wk), Colin de Grandhomme, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult
Nov 16 - Nov 19, 2018
11:30 IST / 6:00 GMT
Sheikh Zayed Stadium - Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
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