"It's always exciting to play against Pakistan": Neil Wagner

[MenInG]

Neil Wagner on arrival in Pakistan:

It's nice to be back with the lads and obviously see everyone's faces again after a while away and yeah, very nice journey over to have arrived safely in Karachi.

Very nice. Some really friendly faces. Everyone is really excited, obviously see us. It's the first time we've obviously been here since 2003, so a lot of excited faces around to have cricket back at Pakistan and yeah, very warmly welcomed and the temperature is actually really quite nice.

So, a nice welcome. Nice to look outside and obviously see the sites around from Karachi and our arrival.

And in terms of this Test series, it's been a while since the Test boys have been together.

It's going to be quite a nice challenge.

Obviously, Pakistan have had a couple of head-outs here against England, so they'll be well prepared.

I guess for us it is just exciting to play Test cricket again.

It's always exciting to play against Pakistan.

They're a very nice group to play against. We've had some really good battles in the past against them, so I'm really looking forward to that challenge and yeah, I guess it's nice to be back with the Test team.

It's been a while since we've been together as a squad and looking forward to those challenges and playing in these conditions

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Can't imagine how winning everytime wouldn't excite you...

 

[MenInG]

Gary Stead speaking in a presser:

"I have watched the series against England very closely, and we've got a lot of footage on it as well. I think whilst it was 3-0 to England, it was a very tight series and at times could've swung either way. So, we are certainly not underestimating Pakistan at all, especially on their home grounds"

"I think there will be tight Test matches, which will be hard fought and maybe very close as well. It's always exciting for us when we've come to a new country as you have to adapt fast, and that's what we will be trying to do"

 

[MenInG]

Henry Nicholls:

"We haven't played as a Test unit for a while and obviously in the context of playing in Pakistan 21 years since we last played here, we are very excited to be here.

"Obviously, Pakistan are really good side, so we're excited for the series and are certainly excited to be here in Pakistan.

"You've done well previously, you do take confidence in that, but we also know that these are different conditions and also a different bowling attack"

"We've seen in the England series that Pakistan bowling attack which certainly has a lot of strength and that is a challenge that we need to be ready for, but we are also excited to embrace it and get into the two match Test series.

 

[volcyz]

NZ gonna get crushed

 

[MenInG]

New Zealand coach Gary Stead believes England’s attacking brand of cricket is redefining the test format of the game as the Black Caps prepare for their two-test series in Pakistan.

“There’s no doubt that they (England) are changing the face of test cricket a little bit,” Stead said Friday after his team’s first training session at the National Stadium in the southern port city of Karachi. “All teams will be thinking a little bit around how England play and the successes that they’ve had in this past year.”

Led by captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum, England swept Pakistan 3-0 this month with its “bazball” aggressive cricket in its first tour to the country after 17 years.

It was England’s ninth win in the last 10 test matches since Stokes replaced Joe Root and McCullum was installed as coach.

“That’s exciting for them and I think it’s exciting for test cricket,” Stead said. “Whilst they did win 3-0 (against Pakistan) though, it was still a very, very tight series throughout and I expect our series here also to be the same.”

England’s fearless approach of scoring at a fast pace saw the team racking up a record 506-4 on the opening day of the first test. England wrapped up the series with an emphatic eight-wicket win at Karachi inside four days.

“There’s no doubt T20 cricket has sped up scoring overall,” Stead said. “Now most cricketers … have the ability to score at a much faster rate. For me, it’s still about finding your tempo, your style of play that suits your players the best.”

England’s batters, led by Harry Brook’s three centuries in three tests, played a key role in the team’s clean sweep in which Pakistan legspinners Abrar Ahmed and Zahid Mahmood shared 29 wickets between them.

Stead expects spin to play a prominent role from Monday when the first test against New Zealand starts.

“Spin will take a bigger part than what we’re probably used to normally,” Stead said.

New Zealand has given Ish Sodhi a test recall after four years and Stead hopes the legspinner will come good on slow turning wickets at Karachi and Multan.

Leftarm spinner Ajaz Patel, who grabbed all 10 wickets in a test innings against India in 2021, and offspinner Michael Bracewell are the other slow bowling options.

“We picked our squad thinking that a legspinner will be important,” Stead said. “We’ve obviously seen Abrar and Mahmood bowling well for Pakistan in the recent test series, so that’s great.”

New Zealand aborted its tour to Pakistan last year because of security concerns just hours before the toss in the first ODI at Rawalpindi. This will be New Zealand’s first tour to Pakistan since 2003 when it played a limited-overs series.

Veteran fast bowler Tim Southee will be leading in test matches for the first time after Kane Williamson stepped down from the test captaincy. Williamson returns to lead the side in the three ODIs at Karachi after the test series.

“It’s a decision that Kane came to himself,” Stead said. “Over the time he’s realized that maybe just pulling back a little bit gives them the chance to really just focus on his batting. He’ll still be a great leader in that group. It’s probably a little bit different having a pace bowler as a captain, but Tim’s got a great cricketing brain.”

The Black Caps are without injured fast bowler Kyle Jamieson and Trent Boult, who is no longer a contracted player with New Zealand Cricket, and was not available for the Pakistan tour.

“Trent Boult is playing in the Big Bash (League) at the moment,” Stead said. “That’s the way the world is going a little bit. The options for players are numerous out there.”

The second test will be played at Multan from Jan. 3-7. Karachi will host the three ODIs Jan. 10-14.

AP

 

[Amjid Javed]

Having watched our pathetic batsmen struggle vs short ball attack vs england, wagner will be having a field day against our cardboard cut out batsmen.

 

[CrIc_Mystique]

I'd say prepare pitches to aid reverse swing and NZ wont be so flash.
Plus a step in the right directtion to recall hassan ali. I'd back him and abrar to give plenty of pain to NZ

 

[Forum363]

Wagner is still playing!? This guy is inhuman.

If Jofra Archer really sorts his attitude, fitness and picks up a brain he would do well to have a career close to Wagners.

 

[Zeshan547]

Why anyone wouldn't be licking their lips at prospect of playing against this spineless bunch and get free runs and wickets and wins and series. If we had a half decent team it would not be a good that exciting to toil all day long for nothing much to show Mr. Wagner and Co.

 

[Saj]

It's a good time to play Pakistan.

Chaos on and off the field.

 

[YorkerKing]

Ukraine had nothing to do with plane crash - Zelensky

Ukraine was not involved in the reported death of Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin, President Volodymyr Zelensky says.

"We are not involved in this situation, that's for sure. I think everyone is aware of who is involved," Zelensky tells journalists in Kyiv.