Cricket: New Zealand Seek Redemption After Hamilton Debacle

The problem with a two-Test series is that if you make a complete hash of the first game you absolutely have to win the second.

Now, that might sound like stating the obvious, but think back to the two other international series which have just finished.

England were allowed the luxury of being completely hopeless in Perth because the Ashes series was over five games. And India bounced back from a shocking performance in the first Test against South Africa to draw the series 1-1, but only because they could afford to be aggressive in the second Test, knowing that there was a third to come on a batsman-friendly pitch in Cape Town.

No such luxury for New Zealand as they enter the second Test against Pakistan in Wellington. After their absolute debacle of a second innings in Hamilton, where they allowed themselves to be bowled out for 110 and so lost the match by 10 wickets, they have to win this game and win it well. The big fear for New Zealand cricket is that the success of their pre-Christmas trip to India—where they held the number one side in the world to two draws—will be proved to be nothing more than a false dawn.

On that tour, former wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum appeared to settle in well to his new role as a specialist openner. Yet he threw his wicket away twice in Hamilton. Similarly, Tim McIntosh and Martin Guptill both had good tours, yet were utterly becalmed and bamboozled by Pakistani spinner Abdur Rehman. Meanwhile, the lean run with the bat continued for Ross Taylor, the one class batsman in the New Zealand side.

New Zealand named the same 13 man squad for this game as for Hamilton, so changes are unlikely unless it is felt that the conditions in Wellington favour left arm seamer James Franklin more than Brent Arnel. The more important change for New Zealand needs to be in mental attitude.

For Pakistan, on the other hand, this represents a chance to win their first series in their last 11 attempts. After their horrendous last two years few would begrudge Misbah-ul-Haq and co that. They thoroughly outplayed New Zealand in Hamilton, with Rehman the pick of the side despite only being in the team as deputy for Saeed Ajmal, who had returned to Pakistan after the death of his father. He was ably supported by the other three bowlers, Tanvir Ahmed, Umar Gul and Wahab Riaz and, with a faster pitch expected for this game, there are unlikely to be any changes in the Pakistani attack.

Similarly, the batting looked solid during their one substantive innings at Seddon Park, with only Mohammed Hafeez failing to get runs and his fellow opener Taufeeq Umar scoring his first international fifty in seven years. In particular, the contributions from Adnan Akmal at seven and Rehman at eight lent a solidity to the Pakistani card that has been lacking for some time and it will be a surprise if any alteration is made to the starting XI for this game.