Pakistan and New Zealand will square off in the first of a two Test series kicking off on Boxing Day from 4.00pm! We have a full preview and betting tips for the clash below.
Pakistan vs New Zealand 1st Test Betting Tips
Karachi, 26th December, 4.00pm (AEDT)
Pakistan
Pakistan will be desperate to bounce back from a disappointing home series against England which saw them lose 0-3 and fall out of the race for 2021-23 cycle of the ICC Test Championship. Pakistan went almost 10 years without losing a Test series at home from 2008-2017, since then, they have ost four of their last seven home series, one of them to their upcoming opponents, New Zealand.
Predicted XI: Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Agha Salman, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Hasan Ali, Nauman Ali, Abrar Ahmed
Pakistan’s first and foremost issue at the selection table over the past week has no doubt been finding the replacement for stalwart No.3 Azhar Ali. The veteran played 97 Tests for Pakistan, amassing 7,142 runs at an average of 42.3. Outside of that, their line-up was pretty settled throughout the England series and should remain similar despite the 0-3 series defeat.
New Zealand
After winning the inaugural ICC Test Championship, the Kiwis have fallen completely out of the running in this cycle due to disappointing series losses to India and England over the past year. In a shock move, long-time skipper Kane WIlliamson stepped down from his role, handing over the reigns to veteran pace bowler Tim Southee ahead of the Pakistan series.
Predicted XI: Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Will Young, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wk), Michael Bracewell, Tim Southee (c), Ajaz Patel, Neil Wagner
New Zealand will have their own veteran to replace leading into this series as paceman Trent Boult recently announced his retirement from the longest form of the game. Luckily, the Kiwis have a strong fast bowling contingent, with the likes of Matt Henry, Neil Wagner and Blair Tickner all in contention for selection alongside the skipper Southee.
Match Prediction
The Pakistanis are deserving favourites at home leading into this first Test but I think the $1.83 pricetag is a little low given how they have looked in recent series. At face-value, I love the price on the Kiwis at $3.50.
New Zealand looks to have put their squad together to suit these Pakistani conditions extremely well. They are touring with three quality spinners in Ajaz Patel, Ish Sodhi and michael Bracewell, who all offer a different style of spin bowling. Neil Wagner is also revered for his ability to extract life out of dead sub-sontinent pitches.
Star batsman Kane Williamson also loves batting in these low-slow sub-continent conditions, averaging 64.7 across six games in the U.A.E.
