NZ vs PAK Dream11 Team Prediction Tips for 1st Test New Zealand vs Pakistan, 26-30 December

NZ vs PAK Dream11: There are three big tests to be played in this year’s Boxing Day and the first of all will be played between New Zealand and Pakistan here at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui. After a disappointing start to their campaign, Pakistan had one consolation win in the last T20I but eventually lost the series. New Zealand have been tremendous at home in test matches and their last loss was against South Africa almost 5 years ago. That tells the skill level they possess in home conditions. Tom Latham provides solidity at the top with star batsmen Williamson and Taylor to follow. They have a world-class wicketkeeper in the form of BJ Watling who can score runs with the lower order. Southee, Boult and Wagner are among the best triplets of fast bowling currently and with young Kyle Jamieson now joining the ranks, the bowling looks as threatening as it can be in these conditions.

Pakistan meanwhile, are not having a great tour. Starting from the bio-secure bubble breaches, very few things have gone their way. The win in the last T20I will give them some confidence but Test cricket is totally different and they are against an opposition who are formidable at home. With regular captain Babar Azam being ruled out of the first test, the onus comes upon the experienced players like Shan Masood and Azhar Ali to put up a tough fight at the top. Skipper Rizwan showed resilience in tests in England and looked good in the last T20I. Bowling is Pakistan’s strength and with Shaheen Afridi, Abbas and young Naseem Shah, they can possess a threat to the hosts. Pakistan will need to put runs on the board in order to challenge the Kiwis.

NZ vs PAK Dream11 match details
Fixture name: 1st Test, New Zealand vs Pakistan
Series: Pakistan tour of New Zealand, 2020-21
Date: 26-30 December, 2020
Time: 3:30 AM IST
Ground: Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
Brief score of the last result at the venue: New Zealand 615/9 dec. beat England 353 & 197 by an innings and 65 runs on Nov 21-Nov 25.
Team Form:
NZ (recent last) L W W W W
PAK (recent last) W W L D D
ICC Test Rankings: NZ 2, PAK 7
Pitch Report: The pitch has a tinge of green and with overcast conditions, it will favor the seamers. The first session of the first day will be important and if the batsmen can play that without much loss, they can go on to make a big score. As the days will progress, the pitch will get better for batting. Expect team winning the toss to field first. The weather will be clear and sunny for most of the match. Only a couple of afternoon showers are expected during the second day.

NZ vs PAK Playing 11
NZ Team News
Injury update, unavailability- New Zealand has a full strength squad. Kane Williamson will be available after missing the last test due to birth of his daughter.
Expected team changes- Williamson will be back in the eleven and he will most likely replace Will Young from the last match against WI. NZ can also bring in Mitchell Santner which will give them a genuine spin bowling option.
Team Combination:
Latham and Blundell will be the openers with Williamson returning to lead the side.
Taylor, Nicholls and wicketkeeper Watling make a formidable middle order.
Southee and Boult will be the new ball bowlers with Wagner and Jamieson to follow.
NZ Playing 11 (probable)
T Latham
T Blundell
K Williamson (C)
R Taylor
H Nicholls
B Watling (wk)
D Mitchell/ M Santner
K Jamieson
T Southee
N Wagner
T Boult

PAK Team News
Injury update, unavailability- Skipper Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq are unavailable for selection as both are nursing injuries. Shadab Khan has also been ruled out due to thigh injury. Zafar Gohar is drafted into the squad in his place.
Expected team changes- From the last test played against England, Pakistan is likely to bring in Haris Sohail in place of injured Babar Azam. One out of Faheem Ashraf and Imran Butt will replace Asad Shafiq.
Team Combination:
Masood and Abid Ali will be the openers with Azhar Ali at No.3.
Haris Sohail, Fawad Alam and captain Mohammad Rizwan will be in the middle order.
The bowling looks in good shape with Mohammad Abbas, Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah the 3 frontline quicks. Yasir Shah will be the specialist spinner.
PAK Playing 11 (probable)
S Masood
Abid Ali
Azhar Ali
H Sohail
F Alam
M Rizwan (C) (wk)
I Butt/ F Ashraf
Y Shah
S Afridi
M Abbas
N Shah

NZ vs PAK Today Match Prediction: Who will win NZ vs PAK Dream11 match today?
New Zealand will start the match as favorites. They are a formidable team at home and possess a perfect fast bowling attack for these conditions. The recent series win against WI was a perfect example of that. The batting looks skillful and has the experience to face any attack. Pakistan though will miss the services of their regular skipper Babar Azam. Their strength is the bowling which has the variety to go past a strong NZ team. The batsmen need to put runs on the board to give their bowling attack a chance. Pakistan usually has good record in England and these conditions aren’t too different. This can be an important factor in the NZ vs PAK Today Match Prediction.

NZ vs PAK Dream11 Prediction, Captain & Differential Picks, Fantasy Cricket Tips
Tom Latham- In seaming conditions, Latham is playing one of the toughest roles in test cricket. His record as an opener has been outstanding as he has been able to counter the swing with the new ball and has gone on to make big scores.

Test Career: Runs 3839, Avg. 42
Latham vs PAK: Runs 471, Avg. 31

Kane Williamson- Williamson will make his place in most of the fantasy teams. The outstanding double century against West Indies recently on a bowler friendly wicket shows the skill this man has. He will be important to NZ’s chances in this game.
Test Career: Runs 6727, Avg. 52
Williamson vs PAK: Runs 854, Avg. 47

Trent Boult- The left-armer is a perfect bowler for the conditions in NZ and he has proved that again and again. He is lethal with the new ball and is a genuine wicket-taking option for his captain.
Test Career: Wkts 272, Bowl Avg. 27
Boult vs PAK: Wkts 20, Bowl Avg. 29

Azhar Ali- The experienced batsman is a key component in the Pakistan test batting line-up. Azhar has the ability to make big scores and will be key if Pakistan are to put a decent total on the board. A brilliant century in his last test innings will be a confidence booster for him.
Test Career: Runs 6129, Avg. 43
Azhar vs NZ: Runs 767, Avg. 42

Mohammad Abbas- Abbas has the perfect skills required for NZ conditions and if he gets his rhythm and keeps bowling good line and lengths, he can be very lethal. His experience and accuracy makes him one of the topmost picks in the NZ vs PAK Dream11 Prediction.
Test Career: Wkts 80, Bowl Avg. 21
Abbas vs NZ: Wkts 2, Bowl Avg. 45

Mohammad Rizwan- Rizwan has been appointed the captain in absence of Babar Azam. He was the Man of the Series in the last test series of Pakistan as he showed tremendous temperament against testing bowling attacks. He will be important for Pakistan in the lower order.
Test Career: Runs 386, Avg. 35
Rizwan vs NZ: Runs 13, Avg. 13

Differential Picks
Kyle Jamieson- The 6’8” tall bowler has made rapid progress in his Test career. His height is always an important factor and becomes dangerous when conditions favor him. Against a fragile Pakistan line-up, he will fancy his chances.
Test Career: Wkts 20, Bowl Avg. 14

Naseem Shah- The 17-year quick was impressive in his last test series against England and bowled consistently at high speeds. He has the skills to run through any line-up in the world and can be a genuine wicket-taker in seamer friendly conditions.
Test Career: Wkts 16, Bowl Avg. 34

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