New Zealand’s bowling coach Shane Bond says the team is looking forward to pitting their wits against the in-form Pakistani spin attack in the forthcoming three match test series.
Pakistan are currently in a strong position to beat Australia 2-0 in their ongoing Test series thanks largely to the effectiveness of their spinners and Bond admitted Pakistan will be a tough opponent on the dry pitches of the United Arab Emirates which help slow bowlers.
“I think this is a really good challenge for us,” Bond said. “It has been a good last year for us and Pakistan are also playing well.
“This is going to be real good measure of us as a team and so we are looking forward to it.”
The Black Caps will start the tour with a three-day warm-up game against Pakistan ‘A’ in Sharjah on Monday. The first Test starts in Abu Dhabi on November 9.
Bond, who played 18 Tests in which he took 87 wickets and 82 one-day games, taking 147 wickets, for New Zealand, admitted Pakistan were playing well. Pakistan as a team have been difficult for a long time. They are in their own conditions though they are not in Pakistan,” said the 39-year-old.
“So Pakistan in these kind of conditions are very tough and there are young players coming through we have seen.
“We are coming in fresh and Pakistan will have played two Test matches and this will see them play five in a row.” The second Test between Pakistan and New Zealand will be in Dubai from November 17 followed by the third in Sharjah from November 26.
“They are a different team to us,” added Bond.
“The good thing for us is that we can learn a bit about the way the Australians had gone about their work in terms of bowling as to what has worked and what hasn’t.
“It’s a tough time for them and that will certainly reflect on whether to try and attack Pakistan and do something different from them to be successful.”
