Five ways New Zealand can counter the Pakistan threat

Pakistan are the kind of opposition teams wish to face after a tiring tour of India in the sub-continent, especially at home. But New Zealand will not actually be overjoyed at the prospect of facing this particular Pakistani Test team. They have had a spectacular run in Tests, climbing to the no.1 spot at one stage before settling down at no.2.

Their last series loss dates back to August 2014. They have found a world class spinner, a superb opening bowler has made a comeback after a ban and a stable opener has provided much-needed stability at the top of the order. They are also blessed with a vastly experienced middle order and a dynamic wicket keeper.

New Zealand are in a hole at the moment after finding it tough to negotiate Indian spinners and even failing to figure out their best XI. The injury to Mitchell Santner means they are without a spinner capable of bowling tight lines. A proven domestic performer, Todd Astle, has come in but whether he can replicate his domestic form in International Cricket remains to be seen.

They will find Pakistan challenging, especially since they boast of a pretty good pack of pace bowlers. What works in their favour is home conditions, but it remains to be seen how well they exploit that against a team brimming with confidence.

Let us take a glance at five ways the Kiwis can counter Pakistan in the first Test at Christchurch starting on 17th November.

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#1 Strengthen the middle order

New Zealand's biggest weakness in the tour to India was their weak middle order, made even weaker by the form of Ross Taylor. Taylor is a senior member of the team and needs to be the anchor in a fairly young middle order.

Watling and Neesham provide some stability but need to be more consistent if they are to keep the Pakistani bowlers at bay. By dropping Ronchi selectors have made a blunder of ignoring a good batsman, who played some tough innings in India. Why the axe fell on him will remain a mystery, but, for now, the Kiwis will have to do without him and the injured Santner.

While Williamson is the obvious strength in the top half of the middle order, the lower middle order is woefully short of contributions in recent times. If Taylor, Nicholls, Watling and Neesham can turn that around, Pakistan will be challenged.

#2 Dismantling Pakistan's middle order

Younis and Misbah will have to be shackled

If the middle order is New Zealand's weakness, it is Pakistan's strength. They have a perfect blend of experience and flamboyance in a power-packed middle order comprising Asad Shafiq, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Babar Azam and Sarfraz Ahmed.

It is a tough line-up to crack but as Windies showed in the final Test of the series, it is not an impossible task. Shafiq, Younis and Misbah are exceptional batsmen and love to keep the scoreboard ticking with singles and doubles coupled with the odd boundary. Denying them the quick singles will put a lot of pressure. But the Kiwis do not have a spinner who can do that job.

What they have are Neesham, Boult and Southee, three bowlers who can tie down batsmen with consistent lines. It is important to let the pressure build from both ends and it will be up to these three to ensure the middle order is kept largely quiet. They are brilliant players of spin and hence it would be wise to hold back a leggie like Astle for later.

#3 Using Wagner wisely

Wagner’s pace and bounce could trouble the Pakistani batsmen

Neil Wagner is a wicket-taking bowler but his wickets could come at a cost as he has this tendency of leaking runs. But, nevertheless, he has become a vital part of New Zealand's bowling attack due to his ability to pick wickets at key times.

What Williamson can do is to use Wagner in short spells alongside the spinner. Wagner offers pace and unpredictable bounce, critical factors on the fast paced pitches in the country.

While Southee and Boult provide consistency in line and length, Wagner is an X-factor in the bowling line-up. His short bursts and odd bouncer can prove to be a handful for Pakistan batsmen infamous for crumbling like a pack of cards against serious pace bowling.

#4 Building partnerships and countering Yasir Shah

Yasir Shah has been a revelation for Pakistan

Yasir is the main weapon in Pakistan's arsenal. But what works against them is that despite the slow nature of some pitches in New Zealand, rain has ensured the green top at Christchurch is a pace bowler’s paradise. That said, someone of the stature of Yasir can never be underestimated.

New Zealand's main issue in India was losing wickets cheaply and not being able to build partnerships. If the others can take a leaf out of Latham or Williamson’s books, building partnerships should get easier. If they do that consistently and negotiate the threat of Yasir, New Zealand are in a good space.

With the climate on offer, Kiwis should be able to handle Yasir but still need to counter a powerful pace attack headed by Amir if they are to build strong foundations.

#5 Pushing Neesham up and bringing Taylor down

Neesham has the technique to bat at 4 or 5

In his few appearances in India, Neesham showed a penchant for hanging around in tough situations and displayed a fight that was absent in the likes of Taylor, Guptill and Nicholls. He seems to be a good batsman with the right technique and needs to bat up the order a bit.

Pushing down Nicholls seems to be the only way Neesham can be accommodated in the top order but another option that might work well is to push Nicholls to 4 and Neesham to 5. This would mean Taylor needs to bat at no.6.

Taylor has not been in the best of form of late and a move down the order might give him time to settle down into the dynamics of the game. The move would also add some much-needed experience to the lower middle order. Nicholls has already shown his adaptability in the tour of South Africa where he played an admirable knock in the final innings.