Cricket Betting: New Zealand vs Pakistan Series Preview

Christchurch came into news in the last couple of days for a horrific earthquake. The disaster notwithstanding, New Zealand will bank on home comforts to get back their confidence against Pakistan. The two Test series will start on Thursday, November 17 at Christchurch.

The Kiwis come on the back of a morale sapping Test series in India where they were whitewashed. Although there were specks of good performance scattered across all of the matches, the end result of 4-0 was a fair indicator of their frailties. They now have a chance to get back into groove at home on pitches that suit them.

Martin Guptill has been dropped following his failures in India which means Tom Latham will have a new face in Jeet Raval for company opening the batting. Much will depend on how Latham and Kane Williamson lead the batting lineup. Ross Taylor and B.J Watling will be crucial too and will relish the change of conditions.

Mitchell Santner – New Zealand’s lone bright spark in India – will be out due to injury for the first Test. Todd Astle has been recalled but may struggle to make impact straightaway. Trent Boult and Tim Southee will be difficult to handle in home conditions and will be crucial for the Kiwis.

Pakistan came to New Zealand with loads of confidence having drawn England 2-2 away and defeated West Indies 2-1 in U.A.E. The earthquake in Christchurch ruined their only warm-up game which may prove to be their folly in difficult conditions. But the form of seniors Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq is important for the visitors to sure up an otherwise inexperienced batting unit.

Lack of match practice will be a concern, especially since the pace trio of the hosts will revel in these helping conditions. However, Pakistan have shown enough resilience in recent times to be considered a fair chance for this series. Their pace attack is very strong and in Yasir Shah they have a spinner who can be a surprise weapon on these pitches.

Conditions make the hosts favourites to win the series and the odds are too low for my liking. However, if you fancy being aggressive, try putting your money on a draw.

TIP: Series Draw – $2.87 at Sportsbet

In the batsman department, Misbah-ul-Haq and Kane Williamson look most suited to end up as best batsman for their respective sides.

TIP: Misbah-ul-Haq most series runs (Pakistan) – $4.33 at Sportsbet
TIP: Kane Williamson most series runs (NZ) – $3 at Sportsbet

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