New Zealand aim to extend winning streak in second Test
January 2, 2021 07:00 MYT
New Zealand will aim to continue their winning streak in the second and final Test against Pakistan, with Kane Williamson's side having the chance to make history in Christchurch.
The home team won the opening game by 101 runs late on the fifth day in Mount Maunganui, finally seeing off spirited resistance from Pakistan's tail with 4.3 overs remaining.
Victory means the Black Caps have now won five Tests on the spin – they have never previously managed six in a row in the format.
There will be at least one change to their team for their first outing in 2021, Neil Wagner ruled out with a broken toe.
The left-arm paceman played on through the pain in the first Test, earning praise from Williamson. However, he is expected to be sidelined for six weeks, leading to New Zealand calling up Matt Henry.
New Year training at Hagley Oval and look who’s back in camp! Local lad Matt Henry v | 2nd Test | 3-7 January | Hagley Oval, Christchurch #NZvPAK #CricketNation pic.twitter.com/q8ThRvsxFX
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 1, 2021
As for Pakistan, they are set to be boosted by the return of captain Babar Azam, who missed the previous game – as well as the Twenty20 series that preceded the Test action – with a broken thumb.
Without their talismanic captain, the tourists were fragile at the top of the order. They fought back well from 52-5 to post 239 in their first innings, while nearly saved the game despite slipping to 37-3 second time around.
They will be up against it, though; New Zealand have lost only one of their previous seven Tests played at Hagley Oval, a seven-wicket defeat to Australia in February 2016.
ON TOP OF THE WORLD
Williamson had a fabulous 2020 in Test cricket, despite the international schedule being badly hampered by the coronavirus pandemic.
The right-hander had the highest average (83) in the format across the previous calendar year out of those players to have had at least four innings, with his knock of 129 in the first Test – combined with Steve Smith's struggles for runs against India – moving him back to the top of the ICC world rankings for Test batsmen.
A career-best score of 251 against West Indies substantially helped his cause. That was his only innings in the series too, as he missed the second Test due to the birth of his first child.
NEW NUMBER 1 Kane Williamson overtakes Steve Smith and Virat Kohli to become the No.1 in the @MRFWorldwide ICC Test Rankings for batting Latest rankings https://t.co/OMjjVx5Mgf pic.twitter.com/jy5o2qgoKn
— ICC (@ICC) December 31, 2020
PAKISTAN SET FOR BABAR BOOST
The tourists felt the absence of their captain in the series opener and still almost fought their way to a draw.
Mohammad Rizwan, who was the skipper in the first Test, said Babar was on track for a return, but a decision would have to wait until Sunday.
"He is fine now. He wants to hit some more balls in the nets and we'll decide [on Sunday]," he said, via the New Zealand Herald. "He's a legend and wants to hit some more balls because [on Friday] he batted very well. If he plays, we bat around him. He has a great impact on our team."
Babar, 26, averages 45.44 in 29 Tests for Pakistan, who are aiming to level the series.
KEY OPTA FACTS
- New Zealand will be looking to win a third consecutive multi-game bilateral Test series against Pakistan.