NZ vs PAK Fantasy Prediction: New Zealand vs Pakistan 1st Test – 26 December (Mount Maunganui). The Blackcaps are aiming for a place in the World Test Championships final.
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Hosts New Zealand will take on Pakistan in the 1st test match of the two matches series. The test games in New Zealand are always fascinating and, two teams with some thrilling pacers are on the show.
New Zealand have been dominant in their home season so far. The pace attack of this team has been on fire, whereas the batsmen are also doing their job. This series is going to be an important one for them as they aim for the World Test Championship finals.
Pakistan lost the T20 series, whereas this series is also going to be a tough one for them. Babar Azam will miss this game, whereas Shadab Khan is also ruled out. The pacers need to fire in this game, whereas the batsmen need to support them. This series is going to be a tough one for the visitors.
Pitch Conditions
A Green Top wicket is going to welcome the teams in this game as well and, the pacers will have a good time. The overcast conditions are also going to trouble the batsmen.
Probable XI for both sides:-
New Zealand – Tom Latham, Tom Blundell, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling (WK), Daryl Mitchell, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Neil Wagner, Kyle Jamieson.
Pakistan – Abid Ali, Shan Masood, Azhar Ali, Haris Sohail, Imran Butt, Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan, Yasir Ali, Mohammad Abbas, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi.
Match Details
Two Match Test Series
Match: New Zealand vs Pakistan first Test Match
Date and Time: 26 December, Saturday- 3:30 am IST
Venue: Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
Where to Watch: Fancode
Top 4 Batting Order
New Zealand
- Tom Latham, Tom Blundell, Kane Williamson, and Ross Taylor
Pakistan
- Abid Ali, Shan Masood, Azhar Ali, and Haris Sohail.
Long Spell Bowlers
New Zealand
- Tim Southee and Neil Wagner
Pakistan
- Mohammad Abbas and Shaheen Afridi
NZ vs PAK Fantasy Wicket-Keeper
BJ Watling will be our wicket-keeper in this game. Watling is one of the most underrated batsmen in the world and has proved himself in challenging conditions. He has scored 3688 test runs at an average of 38.42 whereas, his average in 2019 was 56.00.
NZ vs PAK Fantasy Batsmen
Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor will be our batsmen from New Zealand. Williamson scored a brilliant double-century in the last game he played, whereas Taylor is also a skilled player. Kane has scored 6727 runs at an average of 52.55, whereas Taylor’s average is 45.25. Both of them are test match, specialist players.
Azhar Ali and Shan Masood will be our batsmen from Pakistan. Ali and Masood were brilliant in the last English tour. Azhar scored 210 runs in 3 games in England, whereas Masood scored 179 runs. Both of them are the premier test batsmen on this team.
NZ vs PAK Fantasy All-Rounders
Fawad Alam will be our all-rounder from Pakistan. Alam has scored at an average of 33.88 in test cricket. He is picked as it is necessary to pick mandatory four players from a team.
NZ vs PAK Fantasy Bowlers
From New Zealand, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Kyle Jamieson, and Neil Wagner will make into our team. All four of them were on fire in the last series, where they accumulated 39 out of 40 wickets. They are outstanding pacers whereas, the pitch and weather will suit them as well.
Mohammad Abbas will be our bowler from Pakistan. Abbas is one of the best bowlers of Pakistan in the test format of the game. He has picked 80 wickets in 21 test games, whereas he picked five wickets in the last practice games.
Match Prediction: New Zealand are the favourites to win this game.
Top Names for the Captaincy Role
Kane Williamson and Tim Southee
Top Names for the Vice-Captaincy Role:-
Both the captain’s pick + Azhar Ali and Kyle Jamieson
SportsRush Small-League Fantasy Team for the Game
Note: For Updated teams after the lineup announcement, join The SportsRush Premium on our mobile app.
Fantasy Disclaimer
All our selections are based on in-depth and astute analysis of the players partaking in the match, pitch report and a perusal of other reasoning. Please incorporate a slew of factors while crafting your own side with this article serving as a guide to the match and players.
