"It's going to be a hell of a series" : Mickey Arthur

[Bilal7]

Pakistan cricket coach Mickey Arthur knows as well as anyone that New Zealand's seam-friendly pitches are a million miles removed from India's spin havens.

So despite the fact that New Zealand are coming off a comprehensive three-test series defeat to India, the affable South African is reading nothing into recent results.

Pakistan have some momentum behind them, arriving in New Zealand on Saturday with a 2-1 test series win over the West Indies in the bank. However, they lost the last test by five wickets - a result Arthur blamed on complacency and tiredness.

Pakistan are in Nelson preparing for their three-day warm-up match against New Zealand A starting at Saxton Oval on Friday and Arthur, who was appointed Pakistan's head coach in May this year, was expecting a tight and competitive two-test series.


"I think they're a very good side at the moment, particularly in their own conditions. But our training and preparation and focus is pretty much on how we trained and prepared to play in England."

Pakistan and England shared their recent test series 2-2.

"I think in England I think we got it right and [New Zealand] conditions are going to be similar to England. They're totally different to what what we've just come out of in Dubai, but we were in England only three months ago and we played really well there.

"So I don't expect anything too different from the conditions in England and the players are used to them."

Arthur said that he regarded the Black Caps with the utmost respect.

"I think it's going to be a hell of a series...and for the New Zealand public, I think it's going to be outstanding."

Despite genuine disappointment at New Zealand left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner's withdrawal through injury, Arthur was obviously wary of New Zealand's experienced attack.

"The seam attack's very good. We're expecting a sort of trial-by-seam I guess. [But] we've got a very good seam attack as well."

He said the difference could lie "in which of the top six batsmen batting units are going to perform better, because I think both teams' strength lies in the fact that we've got quality seam and swing bowlers".

Arthur said he wasn't surprised by New Zealand's heavy defeat at the hands of India.

"I coached Australia in India and we lost 4-0...those conditions are so tough for a team that comes from outside of the sub-continent.

"All it does is fire up New Zealand to come back and be better in their own conditions, which they certainly will be."

He didn't see much merit in Australian coach Darren Lehman's suggestion about doing away with the toss at test level and allowing the visiting team first choice of the conditions. However, he said there was room for match referees to write "strongish" reports around pitches.

"But I don't think you can take the toss away simply because home ground advantage is massive and if teams want to be number one in the world...they need to be winning overseas."

Arthur said he was "fairly settled" on his first test lineup ahead of this weekend's warm-up fixture and was likely to give his top six batsmen a run against New Zealand A "to give them a hit out in these conditions".

"The bowling we'll probably juggle around. I think we know who's going to start that first test and for us it'll just be making sure we get enough into their legs before the [first test] start."

Still, Arthur is confident that Pakistan will be carrying real momentum into the series.

"We're a very good cricket team. We've got to play well and all our players need to be performing at their best...not a lot of standout individuals, but a team that works very well together."

And he said that if you're looking for someone to bring the wow factor to the series, keep a close eye on legspinner Yasir Shah.

"Watching him go about his work is unbelievable."

Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/sport/85986152/pakistan-coach-mickey-arthur-expecting-hell-of-a-series-with-black-caps

 

[Aman]

I don't think it will be close.

This NZ side has been playing horribly for over a year now, I expect them to pick up where they left off against the Aussies.

Betting man in me has Pakistan winning it 0-2. Amir, Rahat, Wahab, Yasir, YK, Misbah, Sarfraz and Azhar are just too good for our lot.

 

[BabarAkmal_Fan]

I bet Asad will score in this series and book his spot at #3 for Aus series. However, I do not expect him to perform under pressure in Aus.

 

[Nil Dhumrojal]

Hope for the best contest as I consider Pak as the best Asian tourist till now.have potential to do best in NZ.

 

[Suleiman]

I don't think it will be close.

This NZ side has been playing horribly for over a year now, I expect them to pick up where they left off against the Aussies.

Betting man in me has Pakistan winning it 0-2. Amir, Rahat, Wahab, Yasir, YK, Misbah, Sarfraz and Azhar are just too good for our lot.

Come on man.. don't do this. You're one of the few NZ fans here, I want to see some junoon, and flamboyanCy and aggression.

Like in the 2015 WC.

Amla 2016 is past his prime don't let Aman 2016 be the same way. Need the banter.

Besides, people predicted 3 nil win vs WI yet there were so many close calls in our series to the point of losing a game. Back of my mind I knew we were still unpredictable in a bad way and anything could happen.

Same case here.

Henry, Southee, Boult is not a pop gun attack overseas...

 

[Pakistanian]

Hopefully this isn't hell for us

 

[PakLFC]

NZ at home are not to be taken for granted. We struggle when the ball bounces or there is sideways movement. I am going for 1-1.

 

[Square Drive]

This will be a thrilling series.

Also, what exactly is Arthur hinting here re the playing XI?

5 bowlers or nah, what do you guys reckon?

 

[Slog]

Lol in the lead up to the 2014 UAE series this place was a literal war zone between Pakistani and Kiwi posters. Iirc there were around four kiwi posters too

Sad to see the white flag is alreAdy up this time

 

[Aman]

Come on man.. don't do this. You're one of the few NZ fans here, I want to see some junoon, and flamboyanCy and aggression.

Like in the 2015 WC.

Amla 2016 is past his prime don't let Aman 2016 be the same way. Need the banter.

Besides, people predicted 3 nil win vs WI yet there were so many close calls in our series to the point of losing a game. Back of my mind I knew we were still unpredictable in a bad way and anything could happen.

Same case here.

Henry, Southee, Boult is not a pop gun attack overseas...

I'm a realist and like to call it like I see it.

This current side is mentally shot and easy pickings for all good sides.

Lol in the lead up to the 2014 UAE series this place was a literal war zone between Pakistani and Kiwi posters. Iirc there were around four kiwi posters too

Sad to see the white flag is alreAdy up this time

Leathers probably thinks we're favorites, I'm more realistic about our chances.

 

[Hasan123]

This will be a thrilling series.

Also, what exactly is Arthur hinting here re the playing XI?

5 bowlers or nah, what do you guys reckon?

No use picking Nawaz on a potential green wicket. Better to go with 4 bowler combination and get Babar Azam in the side.

 

[Hawkeye]

NZ will give us a tougher time.

Australia will be much more easy and we're winning or drawing there.

Yup you heard it right.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

It's going to be a good,tough series.Hope we win but NZ will give a good fight.

 

[Rayyman]

Come on man.. don't do this. You're one of the few NZ fans here, I want to see some junoon, and flamboyanCy and aggression.

Like in the 2015 WC.

Amla 2016 is past his prime don't let Aman 2016 be the same way. Need the banter.

Besides, people predicted 3 nil win vs WI yet there were so many close calls in our series to the point of losing a game. Back of my mind I knew we were still unpredictable in a bad way and anything could happen.

Same case here.

Henry, Southee, Boult is not a pop gun attack overseas...

That's more of a South African attitude than a New Zealander's.

 

[Justcrazy]

This will be a thrilling series.

Also, what exactly is Arthur hinting here re the playing XI?

5 bowlers or nah, what do you guys reckon?

Pakistan do not have batting depth to play 5 bowlers.

 

[Justcrazy]

Pakistan need to play to there potential to win the series.

I see rahat has to play an important role in the series.

 

[Adil_94]

Against NZ i think we can win. 1-0 i think we will nick it.

 

[fawad_wellwisher]

It hasn't helped that McCullum has been embarrassing Taylor in the media lately. Williamson is an uninspiring captain and NZ don't really have a real leader in the team after the departure of McCullum.

It is Pakistan's series to lose.

 

[JibranAnsari]

Against nz we will draw the series one one but we need to at least draw a test in australia this time. The drought has been way too long.

 

[Hadi Rizvi]

2-0 to PAK

Our batting is way too solid if we go with 6 batsmen+sarfraz.

Their batting seems inexperienced but they have class in Williamson and Taylor (he's in horrible form tho).

Apart from that, their morale is seriously down so I think if we play sensibly (no collapses/sub-250 scores) then we have this series in the bag.