WELLINGTON (Reuters) – New Zealand’s late bid for a place in next year’s International Cricket Council World Test Championship final comes against Pakistan who suffered an injury when the two-Test series begins. Saturday in Mount Maunganui.
Kane Williamson’s side are third behind Australia and India and need to win both Bay Oval games and then a second from Jan. 1. 3-7 at Hagley Oval in Christchurch to give themselves any chance to make the final to Lord.
Williamson, however, was acutely aware that they would have to take other results along the way, which may be why he tried to downplay the fundamental importance of the series.
“I think that context (the test tournament) is good for the game in general,” he told reporters this week. “But our focus is … starting from scratch again.
“It’s about getting back to basics and playing what’s in front of us instead of getting too carried away with potential.”
New Zealand’s chances of the series were dashed when the batsman Williamson, who lost the innings and a 12-run victory over West Indies in Wellington while he waited, returned. to the birth of his first child.
Tim Southee has also added a boost for the first game, with the bowling spear just four wickets away from joining Richard Hadlee and Daniel Vettori as the third New Zealand player to test 300 wicks to achieve.
Pakistan, however, will be without the injured captain Babar Azam, opener Imam-Ul-Haq and all-rounder Shadab Khan and incumbent Mohammad Rizwan as long as they missed the three who he expected others to take the chances.
“We trust them,” he said. “And hopefully they play well.”
Rizwan was also not worried about the grass-filled wicket block, which could be an advantage for the home team’s strong bowling quarter.
“It doesn’t matter for the park if there is some grass,” he said.
“If it’s sad for us, it’s sad for New Zealand.”
Reporting by Greg Stutchbury; Edited by Shri Navaratnam