PAK vs NZ: New Zealand Playing 11 for Pakistan, 1st Test

New Zealand takes on Pakistan in the first PAK vs NZ Test match starting from December 26 in Karachi. The Kiwis are placed seventh in the WTC points table. Their chances of qualifying for the final are next to impossible as they are placed well below in the log. The Kiwis are playing Test cricket after a long layoff. They last played a Test series against England in May-June losing 0-3.

The Kiwis recently played Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2022 semi-final and they lost to the Men in Green. Pakistan in turn lost to England in the final. Tim Southee will be leading New Zealand in the series after Kane Williamson decided to step down as the Test captain. Babar Azam will continue to lead Pakistan.

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New Zealand head into this series after losing an ODI and T20I series to India by a 1-0 margin each. The side on the road would like to pick themselves up and come back to winning ways.

New Zealand have included Ish Sodhi for the Test series against Pakistan. He played his last Test in November 2018. Alongside him is Ajaz Patel who will be sharing the responsibilities of spin bowling. In this article, we predict New Zealand’s playing XI for the first Test keeping the conditions in mind.

PAK vs NZ: New Zealand Playing 11 for Pakistan, 1st Test

Devon Conway (WK)

Conway will open the batting for New Zealand. He has been a very dependable player for the Kiwis across all three formats. He is a good player of spin which is required in Pakistan conditions.

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Henry Nicholls

Nicholls will open the batting with Conway. He played his last Test match in the series against England. So far he has played 48 Test matches scoring over 2500 runs averaging 38.85.

Tom Latham

Latham can slot in at three. He is another good player of spin and his experience will be required against Pakistan. Latham was a part of the last Test series against England.

Kane Williamson

Williamson has stepped down as captain but still is the most experienced Kiwi batter in the side. He has scored the most Test runs for any Kiwi batter against Pakistan (1242 runs in 12 matches).

Glenn Phillips

Phillips has been included in the side. He can slot in at number five, He made his Test debut against Australia in 2020 and scored 52 on debut. He s a good player of spin and can provide impetus in the midle-order.

Dary Mitchell

Mitchell can slot in at six as the all-rounder. He is flexible with the bat and can bat anywhere in the lineup. He can also bowl useful overs giving the regular bowlers breaks in between.

Tim Southee

Southee the new skipper can slot in at seven. He is amongst the highest six-hitters in Test cricket. He has played 88 Test matches and inching closer to 350 Test wickets.

Neil Wagner

Wargner will replace Trent Boult in the XI. He is not centrally contracted with the board anymore. Wagner bowls with pace and can be a handful on the dead wickets in Pakistan.

Matt Henry

Hendy can be the third seamer in the lineup. He has played 17 Test matches till date and picked up 53 wickets. He last played in the series against England.

Ajaz Patel

With no Mitchell Santner, Ajaz Patel will be one of the two spinners in the lineup. The left-arm spinner has picked up 10 wickets in an innings against India in Mumbai in 2021.

Ish Sodhi

Sodhi was recalled into the Test side. He is a regular for the Kiwis win white-ball cricket but now is required for the series against Pakistan. He is the second spinner in the side.

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