*Official* Pakistan v New Zealand in the UAE 2018

[Athlai]

I'm a big proponent of dropping CDG

 

[nzfan]

Exciting times, planning on watching couple of session each night. Hoping KW plays, if he doesn't then there's nearly 50% drop in our chances to get one against Pakistan. That's how good he is.

The game I think starts at an ideal time, about 6 or 7 p.m. NZDT. Couldn't have asked for better timing. Sleep will take a beating for few days though.

 

[vcs]

Hope Williamson has a big series. But Pakistan really should be winning this comfortably. They're in good form these days.

 

[Moss]

Hope Williamson has a big series. But Pakistan really should be winning this comfortably. They're in good form these days.

Williamson seemed to be getting into some form in the last couple of T20s, is definitely due for a big series. Will be interesting to see how Taylor goes too, he's always been hit-and-miss in the subcontinent but did play one excellent knock last time around in the UAE.

Pakistan favourites for sure given their attack looks way more likely to pick up 20 wickets. NZ have a very green spin attack, but they got by with Craig and Sodhi in 2014 so let's wait and see. Just glad this is a three-test series (small mercies and all that).

 

[Flem274*]

this is the only interesting test series of our season

after this the best opposition fast bowler we'll see all summer will be suranga lakmal or chameera and the best batsman dinesh chandimal or shakib al hasan (if he's even fit).

we're going to go into next summer so cold against the good teams.

 

[Flem274*]

lol apparently we go to sri lanka in august next year (monsoon season isn't it?) and england come to us early season in october/november/december

our batsmen will go from bullying rubel hossain on march roads to the mental swing of monsoon season and our green early season decks that will probably see every game affected by rain.

next season does look awesome though. SL, england. australia and india all lined up.

 

[Athlai]

this is the only interesting test series of our season

after this the best opposition fast bowler we'll see all summer will be suranga lakmal or chameera and the best batsman dinesh chandimal or shakib al hasan (if he's even fit).

we're going to go into next summer so cold against the good teams.

Spot the bloke who no longer follows cricket

 

[Flem274*]

lol are you one of those mustifizur fans

taskin ahmed looked pretty good a few years back but it think he got called for throwing. you follow some of the irrelevant teams athlai (bangladesh, wellington, sri lanka) you should know the answer. does he still bowl?

 

[Athlai]

lol are you one of those mustifizur fans

taskin ahmed looked pretty good a few years back but it think he got called for throwing. you follow some of the irrelevant teams athlai (bangladesh, wellington, sri lanka) you should know the answer. does he still bowl?

He is definitely better than Lakmal. Charmander hasn't bowled in a Test in years. Shakib is probably not even in the top 3 Bangladeshi bats when he does play.

Pretty sure Taskin isn't a thing anymore.

Wouldn't be all that surprised to see Bangers play 3 spinners against us if Shakib is fit. Taijul/Shakib/Mehidy + Fizz and the quick of the month Rubel/Taskin/Roy would probably be their best bet.

 

[Flem274*]

He is definitely better than Lakmal.

i should hope so. lakmal is a club cricketer.

three spinners in nz. there's a recipe for success.

i think i'll be in italy for the whole test series. hopefully ross doesn't break my phone when i check the score. loading in the size of his hundreds won't be easy.

 

[SillyCowCorner1]

Enjoy your trip in Italy!

 

[straw man]

It'll look great in our trophy cabinet

 

[Black_Warrior]

This was an enjoyable post, pretty useful as I haven't followed the inner workings of Pakistan cricket for a while now. I do remember Junaid bowling very well against the Lankans during that 2014-15 period when they seemed to play each other all the time. Surprised to see the assessment of his pace though. Has he slowed down over the course of his career?

At his peak he was 135+ occasionally hitting 140.

Since his injury, it's more like early 130s, maybe occasionally hitting 135 but often going as low as 128

Thanks for this mate.

Look forward to your guys arrival. Your bowling attack could give us a tougher time than last time and you got to feel Mickey has been building for this in the back of his mind. Last tour was tough viewing at times and as ever for Pakistan they have never come to terms batting in SA. That will be the key if they can improve there.

I'm quite worried tbh. South Africa's pace attack is scary in these conditions and boy Steyn looks hungry as ever. As a massive Steyn fan, I was hoping he would play the entire last season against India and Australia and satiate his hunger with the likes of Kohli and Warner and by the time of this series, he would take it easy a little bit..basically have my cake and eat it too

But boy he looks raring to go and becomes a different beast in the whites. Add that to Philander, Rabada and Ngidi and PCB never preparing for these SA/AUS tours the way the prepare for England and we will likely have Pakistan arriving a few days before the 1st Test and get streamrolled like last time

I am very interested to see Abbas bowling in South Africa though. There are some weaknesses in the SA top order which Abbas can exploit but if we're 45 all out like last time, don't think that will matter much

 

[Bijed]

It'll look great in our trophy cabinet

Nah, nothing against NZ but I really hope Pakistan win it. That trophy deserves to sit next the one from their recent series vs Australia:

 

[straw man]

Yeah that was the big cracker trophy and since you all love Simpsons memes, this can be the ahoy-hoy trophy.

 

[Athlai]

Yeah that was the big cracker trophy and since you all love Simpsons memes, this can be the ahoy-hoy trophy.

Well ****, now I won't be able to think of this in any other way

 

[Starfighter]

Cricinfo's preview is suggesting three pacers plus Sodhi & CdG. For some reason I don't think so.

 

[Chewie]

Williamson's in, no Southee

 

[straw man]

Good.

Great to win the toss too. Pumped!

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Raval's first test innings outside NZ. C'mon lads