New Zealand vs Pakistan, First Test: Test cricket is up and running

The First Test match between New Zealand and Pakistan played at Abu Dhabi is a fantastic advertisement for Test cricket. The match will most certainly change the opinion of the younger generation that Test match is boring.

Even in social media, one would find more readings of an IPL article rather than on an opinion expressed for a Test match. Test match, for youngsters, is looked upon as more time consuming and worth not the waiting.

Coming back to the Abu Dhabi Test match, in a closely fought Test match, New Zealand won by just 4 runs to go one up in the 3 Test match series. Quite naturally, this was New Zealand’s narrowest margin of victory while for Pakistan, it was their narrowest defeat in terms of the number of runs.

Pakistan would be more disappointed with the outcome since they thought they were in command right through this Test match. They never expected a reverse on home ground against New Zealand who were lacking in world-class spinners. But New Zealand in the past have shown that with a couple of world-class players, could give the top teams in the world a run for their money.

New Zealand showed tremendous fighting skills to come back into this Test match after being shot out for 153 runs in the first innings.

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New Zealand first innings

Yasir Shah bowled beautifully in both the innings

This Test match was a roller-coaster ride which witnessed a lot of ups and downs in every session of play. This match could be termed as a match with too many batting collapses.

New Zealand captain was lucky enough to win the toss and bat first. But New Zealand were reduced to 39 for 3 before Captain Williamson and Nicholls put on 72 runs for the fourth wicket. At 111 for 3, New Zealand were comfortably placed to cross 250, if not more. That was when the first collapse happened.

The wicket of Nicholls brought about a collapse and from 111 for 3 New Zealand were bundled out for 153. Williamson was the highest scorer for New Zealand with 63.

For Pakistan, Yasir Shah took 3 wickets and Mohammad Abbas, Hasan Ali and Haris Sohail took 2 wickets each.

Pakistan first innings

Babar Azam turning into a good Test batsman

When Pakistan started their first innings, they were hoping to put up an impressive batting show and earn a first innings lead of around 150. But like New Zealand, they too lost two quick wickets when both their openers, Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Hafeez got out cheaply.

However, Pakistan’s middle-order came good with useful contributions from Haris Sohail (38), Asad Shafiq (43) and Babar Azam (62). Babar Azam, after his consistent performance in white ball cricket, has started to find his feet in Test match cricket.

Pakistan had gone past New Zealand’s first innings total of 153 for the loss of just 4 wickets only. Pakistan reached 174 for 4 when the second collapse of the match happened where they lost their last 6 wickets for 53 runs.

For New Zealand, Trent Boult was their best bowler with figures of 4 for 54. Colin De Grandhomme and debutant Ajaz Patel took 2 wickets each.

Pakistan got a first-innings lead of 74 runs.

New Zealand second innings

B.J. Watling and Nicholls were involved in a crucial century partnership in the second innings

The Kiwis second innings started in a disastrous manner when their opener Tom Latham was knocked over by Hasan Ali with no runs on the board. But the other opener Jeet Raval put on 86 runs with Williamson. The latter was dismissed off a beauty from Yasir Shah.

The loss of Williamson’s wicket brought about the third collapse in the match in which New Zealand lost 3 wickets for 22 runs. A 112 run partnership for the fourth wicket between B.J. Watling and Nicholls brought New Zealand back into the game.

Both Watling and Nicholls reached their respective 50s. At that stage, it looked like New Zealand would take an overall lead of 250. Nicholls played two crucial innings in the Test match for New Zealand before trying to hoick Yasir Shah and was caught behind. That brought both Yasir Shah and Pakistan back into the game.

Yasir Shah and Hasan Ali initiated the fourth collapse of the match as New Zealand slipped from 220 for 4 to 249 all out. Both Yasir Shah and Hasan Ali took 5 wickets each.

That left Pakistan with a score of 176 for win.

Pakistan second innings

Ajaz Patel on his debut has won the match for New Zealand

At the end of play on day 3, Pakistan finished in a comfortable position at 37 for no loss needing another 139 runs for a win.

When play resumed on the fourth day, Pakistan were confident of going past the New Zealand score. That was when the fifth collapse happened with Pakistan losing 3 wickets for the addition of 7 runs to their overnight score.

But an 82 run partnership between Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq for the fourth wicket brought Pakistan much closer to the target. In the last over before lunch, Pakistan were almost through with 46 runs to achieve with 7 wickets in hand. Both Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq were firmly entrenched at the wicket on 40 and 46 respectively.

The last over before lunch was bowled by Neil Wagner. After testing both Ali and Shafiq with innumerable bouncers, Wagner suddenly changed his line and pitched one up. Shafiq was not expecting this change as he nicked one behind the wicket. That was the breakthrough that New Zealand were looking for.

Babar Azam Azhar Ali were busy scoring runs after lunch that the target was reduced to 29 runs with 6 wickets in hand. That was when the final collapse of the match happened.

After his brilliant show in the first innings, Babar Azam reached 13 quickly before Azhar Ali forced him to run for a non-existing single which resulted in Babar’s run-out at the non-striker’s end. Lest Azhar Ali’s involvements in run-outs, he has got as big a reputation as that of an Inzamam-ul-Haq.

That was the bit of fortune New Zealand were praying for. Skipper Sarfraz Ahmed joined Azhar Ali as Pakistan needed 22 runs with 5 wickets in hand.

The Pakistan captain decided to score all the remaining runs needed for a win all by himself. He played a horrendous sweep shot which was held by the keeper. One thought he would get away with it when the on-field umpire gave that not out. But a clever review by New Zealand showed a lit bit of glove involved and Sarfraz had to depart.

Suddenly the Pakistan fans were nervous. Pakistan, traditionally a superior bowling unit, had a poor record with the bat while chasing. Both Neil Wagner and Patel bowled non-stop at either end. Azhar Ali played out a maiden to Wagner.

Ajaz Patel struck at the other end, courtesy another poor hoick by Bilal Asif without understanding the situation of the game. In the next over, Wagner removed Yasir Shah for a duck and Pakistan still needed 21 runs with 2 wickets in hand.

The new batsman Hasan Ali was in no mood to stick around with Azhar Alia as he tried to play big shots at every ball he faced. With a boundary and a couple, Azhar Ali reduced the target to 12 runs.

Hasan Ali finally succumbed to his temptation when he found Tim Southee at deep mid-wicket to precision. With 12 needed for a win and one wicket in hand, Azhar Ali finally started farming the strike with the last man, Mohammad Abbas. In the process, he had to refuse so many singles in the first four balls of the over which could have been the difference in the end.

Azhar Ali managed to farm the strike for 7 consecutive overs which produced 7 singles. Now Pakistan were just one strike away from a win. In between, New Zealand had an unsuccessful review against Mohammad Abbas which added more drama to the proceedings.

Pakistan needed 5 runs and New Zealand one wicket. All three results were possible at that stage. Patel, who has been bowling so well on his debut, trapped Azhar Ali in front of the wicket and the umpire gave that out. As expected, Azhar Ali went for the review and it came down as umpire’s call. That brought an end to a sensational Test match which New Zealand won by 4 runs.

Ajaz Patel was the player of the match on his debut.

How the Abu Dhabi Test match would publicize the beauty of a Test match and rekindle the passions for a Test match?

New Zealand skipper Williamson - A shrewd tactician

# Test matches are normally won on a session-to-session basis. That was very much reflected in the Abu Dhabi where one team had the upper hand at a particular point in time before losing the grip of the game. This uncertain nature of a Test match brings about more drama to the game.

# In a Test match, a team gets two opportunities to right the wrong. In this Test match, even after scoring just 153 runs in the first innings, New Zealand found a way to come back in the second innings. This second chance ensures that Test matches are by and large not one-sided.

# At Abu Dhabi, there were a total of 6 batting collapses and the pendulum kept swinging from one side to another side. This kind of fluctuation in fortunes is often not felt in white ball cricket which has now become stereotyped and started producing dull affairs.

# One-day match has lost its charm with the advent of T20 cricket and due to the dull nature of the proceedings in the middle overs. However, Test matches, of late are more result oriented barring weather interference.

Ironically, it was the aggressive approach of the batsmen carried forward from white ball cricket that has facilitated Test matches to be more result oriented in recent times.

# The joy of watching Test matches is that there is neither any field or overs restriction. At Abu Dhabi, fast bowler Neil Wagner bowled a spell of 13 overs. He bowled unchanged since lunch. Again with no restriction on field placement, New Zealand took the game deep to make Pakistan sweat for each and every run.

# In Test matches, strategy plays a bigger role than in white ball cricket. White ball cricket has nowadays become more predictable with the fixed strategy being adopted by teams.

In the Abu Dhabi Test, Williamson was spot on with his strategies towards the end of the match. He bowled both Wagner and Ajaz Patel unchanged. At no point of time, he was tempted to bring back his main strike bowler Boult for an over or two. A couple of looseners from Trent Boult on his new spell would have given some free runs to Pakistan.

As against New Zealand, Pakistan were bizarre with their strategies. At the fall of Sarfraz's wicket, Azhar Ali could have started farming the strike. But he failed to do so and exposed the tail until the last man Mohammad Nawaz arrived at the crease. By that time, it was too late for Pakistan and Azhar Ali refused some crucial singles which turned out to be the difference in the end in a close match.

In hindsight, Azhar Ali should have farmed the strike much earlier which was a tactical blunder from him.

The result of the Abu Dhabi Test is likely to bring more interest and crowd to Test matches.