Match Details:
The 1st Test match of the Pakistan tour of New Zealand will be played at the Bay Oval Cricket Ground in Mount Maunganui.
The match is scheduled to start at 11:00 AM Local Time (03:30 AM IST, 26 Dec) (10:00 PM GMT).
Preview:
After playing in the T20I series, which was won by the New Zealanders by a 2-1 margin to the dismay of the Pakistan team, the two teams will be facing off in a two-match Test series, starting on Boxing Day, which is the 26th of December.
The momentum that New Zealand had gained in the T20I series by winning the first two matches on the trot, was cut short significantly by the Pakistan team, as they won the last match of the series. So, coming into this game, it would hard to call out any favourites, but owing to the home conditions for the Kiwis, they will surely have a slight edge over their opponents in certain conditions.
NZ vs PAK Weather Report for 1st Test:
The weather in Mount Maunganui during the days of the match being played is expected to be mostly sunny with an odd passing shower of rain expected around the second day. The temperature will be around the 22 degree Celsius mark.
Pitch Report:
The pitch at this venue is expected to be a surface where the batsmen will be tasked with facing bowlers who will be getting a lot of help from the surface. Apart from a couple of deliveries, the batsmen will find it hard to score runs here.
Average score in each inning:
Average 1st Inns scores: 353, Average 2nd Inns scores: 615, Average 3rd Inns scores: 197 (In the only Test match played here)
Injury and Availability News:
Shadab Khan will not be playing this match as he sustained a thigh injury.
NZ vs PAK Probable Playing XIs:
New Zealand:
Tom Latham, Tom Blundell/Will Young, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling, Daryl Mitchell, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Kyle Jamieson, Neil Wagner.
Bench:
Mitchell Santner, Tom Blundell/Will Young
Also read – Australia vs India: Ravindra Jadeja set for return in Boxing Day Test
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Pakistan:
Abid Ali, Shan Masood, Azhar Ali, Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan (C, WK), Faheem Ashraf, Haris Sohail, Yasir Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Abbas
Bench:
Imran Butt, Shadab Khan, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Sohail Khan, Zafar Gohar
NZ vs PAK Top Picks for Today’s Dream11 Match:
Kane Williamson has been one of the pillars of the New Zealand cricket team’s batting line-up for quite some time now. And, in 2020 itself, he has scored 348 runs in just 3 Test matches, so his presence on the crease will surely send chills down the spines of the Pakistan bowling attack.
Tom Latham’s record in Test cricket has been formidable and in this year also he has been a vital cog of the New Zealand batting line-up and in the 54 Tests he has played for the team in total, he has scored 3839 runs at an average of 42.66.
Mohammad Rizwan, the 28-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman, since the day of his debut for the national team, has shown a lot of promise as a player and has delivered on many occasions. He will be tasked with leading the team in this series. So far, he has played 9 Tests where he has scored 386 runs in total and has done well as a keeper too.
Fawad Alam is another rookie in the Pakistani team who seems to be laden with talent and a lot of potential to make it big at the highest level in Test cricket. He has played in 5 matches so far and has scored 271 runs in total and will want to prove his mettle in this series by doing well.
Captain and Vice-Captain Selection:
Captain Options – Kane Williamson, Tom Latham
Vice-Captain Options – Mohammad Rizwan, Fawad Alam
Suggested Playing XI No.1 of NZ vs PAK for Dream11 Fantasy Cricket:
Keeper – Mohammad Rizwan (VC)
Batters – Kane Williamson (C), Henry Nicholls, Tom Latham, Azhar Ali
All-Rounders – Faheem Ashraf
Bowlers – Neil Wagner, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Mohammad Abbas, Shaheen Afridi
Suggested Playing XI No.2 of NZ vs PAK for Dream11 Fantasy Cricket:
Keeper – BJ Watling
Batters – Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Azhar Ali (C), Haris Sohail
All-Rounders – Fawad Alam (VC)
Bowlers – Neil Wagner, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Abbas, Shaheen Afridi, Kyle Jamieson
Expert Advice:
Keep an eye out on the playing XI before selecting your Dream 11 fantasy team for this match. Given the conditions and the form of the players, it would be a wise choice to include 4 batsmen in your team, with either Azhar Ali or Haris Sohail being slotted in your team as the 4th batsmen.
Today’s NZ vs WI Probable Winners:
New Zealand is expected to win this match.
