New Zealand v Pakistan l 2nd Test l Christchurch l January 03-07 2021 l Pre-match discussion

[Colorblind Genius]

Commies were saying it will be more supportive for pacers and historically that has been the case as well. Average opening stand is 31 runs and average runs per wicket is 30. NZ has lost just one test and won 5 out of 7 matches at the venue while one was a draw.

In the last match played here (NZ vs Ind), no team was able to cross 250 in 3 completed innings. India scored 242 all out and 124 all out while NZ scored 235 all out and 124 for the loss of 3 in the last innings winning the game.

So I believe Pak bowlers will have to be on top of their game so that NZ doesnt score much.

But on the reciprocal, how do think our batting will pan out on such a wicket?

So even if our pace bowlers deliver their best and restrict NZ to be in the average innings runs (lets say 240ish), our batsmen won't be able to cross 200, it seems.

Our bowlers will really need to deliver out of this world type of performance to restrict NZ to under 200 or something to be confidently put the stakes on the support provided by our batting.

 

[UzmanBeast]

With no Babar Azam, the only thing Pakistan needs to consider is the cause of the loss in the first test.

Our bowling was a bit toothless in the first innings, especially Naseem who was being told to bowl full and on off-stump. In the second innings, he went aggressive with short pitched bowling and got wickets, which should be his role.

Abbas wasn't getting any breakthroughs and frankly is just a waste of a seamer because he has no ability to take wickets once the shine is gone. When people step outside the crease, he becomes completely ineffective.

Shaheen did well in the first innings and should look to bowl with more protection on the leg side if he wants to bring the pads into the equation.

Faheem needs to be the first change bowler, and I would even try to develop him into a new ball bowler. He's much more potent than Abbas, and if Faheem takes wickets tomorrow, we'll be in a good position. His line should be on off-stump at a pace where batsmen can't stand outside the crease.

Zafar Gohar should come in for Yasir Shah to bowl some controlled overs of spin. He can also bat a bit, which is an upgrade.

For our openers, they need to hang in there and score some runs. They need to make plans session by session as to what is to be achieved. Defending everything won't help anyone, and taking dumb risks won't either. Hence, they should try to get runs at 2.5 an over whilst settling in and gearing up to play the long innings.

Azhar needs to score big so that the middle order can also perform behind him.

Haris/Imran need to step up and score some gritty runs.

Fawad, Rizwan, Faheem, and Gohar have to put together some runs, at least 200 for us to have a chance.

Amad Butt needs to play the test as well, to add more to our bowling, though they will stick with Abbas 100%.

I'd go with:

Shan Masood
Abid Ali
Azhar Ali
Imran Butt
Fawad Alam
Mohammad Rizwan
Faheem Ashraf
Zafar Gohar
Mohammad Abbas
Shaheen Shah Afridi
Naseem Shah

That's the best combination I can come up with. Win the toss, bowl first, hold onto the catches, and we should be in the game.

Does anyone know what the Christchurch pitch looks like?

 

[PakPremi]

I don't think its a wise ploy to have two 120 KPH trundlers bowling to accomplished players in their own conditions.

New Zealand team was full of trundlers and they made mince meat of Pakistan team. Sohail can replace Abass who does nothing with the ball.

 

[Nasty Naz]

I'd still play Haris in the side than Azhar. I have zero faith in Azhar's ability to put up anything beyond 10-20 runs. Haris has struggled but does have ability to play a big inning which Azhar does not.

Either way, the batting looks like an absolute disaster. If they manage to cross 200 runs in both innings, it will be a miracle.