It's not over yet - Pakistan can make a comeback and win the Test series against New Zealand

[Ab Fan]

The hallmark of a great cricketing nation is that even though when they aren't at their best and there is a lack of great players to look forward to as an inspiration in the lineup, they still make a comeback and snatch victory from the jaws of the defeat.

Way back during Champions Trophy in 2017, this team was humiliated by a strong Indian team but then what happened was a turn-around which fans remember and cherish today as well. Pakistan defeated South Africa, England and India on a consecutive basis in knockout games and clinched the tournament.

The T20 Tri-series also saw Pakistan having a terrible start when a weaken Australia humiliated the batting and team collapsed on a low score. However, Pakistan eventually made a comeback and went on to beat Australia in finals and win the series. Another example was NZ ODI series.

The story is not about LOs. In tests as well, after a much-anticipated draw vs Australia, Pakistan made a comeback and went on to win the match as well as the series. This is something which Pakistan has done numerous times and have succeeded on it, you look at 2015 test series in England,the losses against WI and the way they turned it on after that. I love this ability of Pakistan to always make a comeback from the jaws of defeat and snatch victory from opposition and end up on winning end and this is why I have no doubt that Pakistan will once again stood up as a side, as a unit and win this series 2-1. It is not over as long as it is not over.

To Pakistan's credit, over a dozen of home series, they have lost only one series over this decade and I still have hopes that Pakistan will win this series vs New Zealand.

Discuss!

 

[DRsohail]

With this team pakistan has loss of series writte on the card,Mark my words.

 

[rhony]

Pak should win the toss in the next test. That's the key. If they do, they will win the series. Need to halt NZ's momentum in this next test.

 

[szrana]

We will be whitewashed, save your energy.

 

[coy0607]

 

[Hasan123]

What changes are we going to make to give you this confidence? Hafeez ,Bilal ,and Sarfraz will still play.

Also winning this series will paper over the cracks in the test team. No support for Yasir, batsmen who are mental midgets and have no game against pace.

 

[Sachin136]

They probably will, just like in the ODI series. But top teams these days shouldn't be losing home tests in the first place.

 

[Savak]

Very wishful thinking. This was an absolute golden opportunity which Pakistan squandered. The likes of Williamson, Taylor and Latham are not going to have a poor test match again and Williamson is due a big score. We will be lucky to even draw it from here. NZ will take immense confidence from the first test match.Their bowlers and fielders know what it takes to dry up the runs against our batsmen and how to get their wickets .

 

[topspin]

My prediction before the series was 1-1 but I think New Zealand will clinch the series next game. The team will be too demoralised to bounce back. They're a soft bunch and Williamson + Taylor are due big scores.

 

[Hawkeye]

It doesn't matter.

Losing that Test was unacceptable.

We should not mask our weak areas and a non performing captain.

 

[Ozeirk]

We may end up winning the series but the Indian fans will taunt us for losing this match into the next decade. Good thing they embarassed themselves in England recently and similar fate awaits in Australia lol

 

[Ozeirk]

My prediction before the series was 1-1 but I think New Zealand will clinch the series next game. The team will be too demoralised to bounce back. They're a soft bunch and Williamson + Taylor are due big scores.

Abbas is due a 5 wicket haul and Yasir Shah is just picking form. Pakistan will be able to recover from this defeat however it will be a great test of their character as a team.

 

[Adnan_Ilyas]

They bloody better

 

[giri26]

Well obviously Pakistan will make a comeback. They are a strong team in UAE and they will surely put up a better show but again NZ will not be easy to beat as well. They are a very hard working team and they will not make it easy for Pakistan.

 

[giri26]

Well obviously Pakistan will make a comeback. They are a strong team in UAE and they will surely put up a better show but again NZ will not be easy to beat as well. They are a very hard working team and they will not make it easy for Pakistan.

 

[Ozeirk]

Very wishful thinking. This was an absolute golden opportunity which Pakistan squandered. The likes of Williamson, Taylor and Latham are not going to have a poor test match again and Williamson is due a big score. We will be lucky to even draw it from here. NZ will take immense confidence from the first test match.Their bowlers and fielders know what it takes to dry up the runs against our batsmen and how to get their wickets .

They know how to dry up runs from Azhar Ali and mind you that is not a very difficult thing to do these days. The guy was planning on scoring a single every over to get pakistan across the line, to score a 2 in an over was something to celebrate. It was attrocious batting from supposedly best test batsman in Pakistan. Being such an experienced player you should be able to play proper cricketing shots to hit a boundary. He definitely isn’t in the right frame of mind and is seriously lacking confidence due to his slump in form. The sooner he comes out of it the better it is for Pakistan.

 

[giri26]

Well obviously Pakistan will make a comeback. They are a strong team in UAE and they will surely put up a better show but again NZ will not be easy to beat as well. They are a very hard working team and they will not make it easy for Pakistan.

 

[Savak]

They know how to dry up runs from Azhar Ali and mind you that is not a very difficult thing to do these days. The guy was planning on scoring a single every over to get pakistan across the line, to score a 2 in an over was something to celebrate. It was attrocious batting from supposedly best test batsman in Pakistan. Being such an experienced player you should be able to play proper cricketing shots to hit a boundary. He definitely isn’t in the right frame of mind and is seriously lacking confidence due to his slump in form. The sooner he comes out of it the better it is for Pakistan.

To be honest he has always lacked confidence, he will show the body language of a debutant even if he is batting on 200 or 300. This talk about lack of confidence is crap especially given that he was batting on 64. He is a very limited player mentally and technically.

 

[BDfanforever]

I think from here on, NZ will just get better and better throughout the series. NZ were clueless in 1st Innings, but they came back in the 2nd innings.

 

[Ozeirk]

To be honest he has always lacked confidence, he will show the body language of a debutant even if he is batting on 200 or 300. This talk about lack of confidence is crap especially given that he was batting on 64. He is a very limited player mentally and technically.

Lack of match practice for him is to blame. He only plays test cricket and Pakistan as team probably plays the lowest numbers of test matches in an year. He is a slow run getter but today was at another level.

 

[Buffet]

Toss will be crucial. If NZ wins the toss it may get hard for Pakistan.

 

[JaDed]

It's always good to win first test, now Kiwis can settle in, but Abbas is due a 5fer and Hassan is in form along with Yasir ,so it's not going to be easy, but the test series is very interesting.

Batting of Pakistan no one inspires confidence though, Babr at best if Kiwis win the toss again it they would again back themselves.

 

[BreadPakoda]

We may end up winning the series but the Indian fans will taunt us for losing this match into the next decade. Good thing they embarassed themselves in England recently and similar fate awaits in Australia lol

If India can lose to SA away, Sri Lanka to England at home, and Bangladesh to Zimbabwe at home then why can’t Pakistan lose to NZ at home?

 

[Gunner85]

Pakistan will make a comeback only if they bat first.otherwise no chance.pakistan is not going to win if they are chasing anything over 150

 

[Suleiman]

Ofc it’s not over yet there’s still a good chance we’ll win this series, BUT for a side whose fans call their home a foretress, best in Asia, “7 isn’t our real ranking”, this loss was a wake up call.

No one thinks NZ will 2-0 or something. If they do then that’ll be crazy.

 

[Sarwar89]

So many teams have comeback strongly after losing first Test. India lost 1st Test badly against Aussies in 2016, won 2-1 in the end.

England v India 2014
England v Australia Ashes 2005
England v Pakistan 2016:2018
India v England 2012

The British lion hearted spirit is needed.

South Africa v India 2007
India v Australia 2001

 

[Hawkeye]

I don't know why it's a debate.

There's no question over this.

Of course NZ isn't winning the series that too in the UAE.

But that doesn't matter and not the point. We've lost 4 Test matches and won only 1 under Sarfraz.

 

[Sarwar89]

I don't know why it's a debate.


There's no question over this.

Of course NZ isn't winning the series that too in the UAE.

But that doesn't matter and not the point. We've lost 4 Test matches and won only 1 under Sarfraz.

Lets be honest.
Joe Root lost 5 Test Matches in a row in Australia and Newzealand only 1 year ago.

His batting was a disaster.

Rooty then lost at Lords to Pakistan as well.
6 Test defeats and 1 draw in 8 Tests at that time.

 

[Balthazar]

Don't think so. You are underestimating NZ here. They are an extremely professional unit as a side and they will not let this chance go to waste. They will be even more motivated in the next match.

 

[Abdullah Rabbani]

Not bad defeat than srilanka whitewash and many more loss to come i am not worry after every defeat this captain say we dont make this mistake again but he made,
if you don't play players on merit which are good than this crap you again and again defeated like srilanka whitewash and 5:0 newzealand whitewash why the young players wasting there enery and talent in domestic if you don't select them on merit.

 

[Hawkeye]

Lets be honest.
Joe Root lost 5 Test Matches in a row in Australia and Newzealand only 1 year ago.

His batting was a disaster.

Rooty then lost at Lords to Pakistan as well.
6 Test defeats and 1 draw in 8 Tests at that time.

Salute - Joe Roots performance is now being compared with Sarfraz?

First criteria is be on merit for selection. Sarfraz doesn't make the team, that's why he's more criticized.

 

[Ahmed216]

New Zealand will win this series.
This pak team needs a better, more courageous leader who can lead the team in tough situations and instill confidence in other players.
our Kaptaan Sahab finds it hard to sleep during tournaments

 

[Third_Umpire]

They might well win the series but the way they lost the 1st test is unforgivable. I don't mind losing, it's part of the game, but I hate losing mindlessly and shamelessly. It's like the entire batting line up completely lost their minds, including Shafiq and Azhar who were among the runs. What the hell was Azhar thinking towards the end? The ball he got out to turned, but Azhar was neither forward nor back, just a stupid, timid plod and a half hearted push of the bat in front. ZERO intent to attack to defend.

This defeat really stings for just how stupid it was.

 

[Azeem Zafar]

As much as I am disheartened by the abysmal way of losing yesterday, I am still hopeful that Sarfaraz & co. will make a strong comeback in remaining matches. Our bowling did considerably well in 1st test, Hasan & Yasir were among the wickets which will definitely boost their confidence regardless of the match result. We just need to click in the batting department, one 100 from either Babar/Haris/Imam with a disciplined bowling performance & we'll be cruising all the way towards victory.

 

[Fahdi]

I think we'll win the series but that doesn't excuse this loss.

 

[AFM]

I think we'll win the series but that doesn't excuse this loss.

Exactly. This has been our most depressing loss since Sydney 2010.

 

[Sarwar89]

Exactly. This has been our most depressing loss since Sydney 2010.

No since Abu Dhabi 2017. Chasing 136 and failed.

 

[Markhor]

What did you take away from our batting performance in the 1st Test that gives you confidence going forward ?

 

[Ab Fan]

The loss against New Zealand, in some way, or another is surely a blessing in disguise. After a turmoil performance vs NZ, Pakistan are seen as a team who are underdogs or dark horses for this series against a mid-tier team like New Zealand. And this is where lies the strength of Pakistan.

I expect a couple of changes in the Pakistan squad for second test but a bigger change will be seen in their mentality towards the game. The loss was a kind of suffer and that will surely lit up their batsmen to prove their mettle and I have no doubt a comeback with a victory is not far off.

 

[AFM]

No since Abu Dhabi 2017. Chasing 136 and failed.

That was still understandable to an extent because we were facing our old nemesis Herath.

No offence to Patel, but he wouldn't even be playing if Satner was fit. We should have won with the position we were in at Lunch time.

 

[Sarwar89]

That was still understandable to an extent because we were facing our old nemesis Herath.

No offence to Patel, but he wouldn't even be playing if Satner was fit. We should have won with the position we were in at Lunch time.

To be brutally honest i have seen many Test matches where teams have failed to chase even 125 let alone 176.

114 Sydney Test Aus v South Africa 1993
120 West indies v South Africa 1997
127 New zealand v Pakistan 1993
104. India v Aus mumbai 2004.

 

[Sarwar89]

To be brutally honest i have seen many Test matches where teams have failed to chase even 125 let alone 176.

114 Sydney Test Aus v South Africa 1993
120 West indies v South Africa 1997
127 New zealand v Pakistan 1993
104. India v Aus mumbai 2004.

120. Correction Westindies v india 1997 barbados.