New Zealand coach Mike Hesson warned his team needed to be at their best to compete on a flat Sharjah pitch where they meet Pakistan in the third and final Test from tomorrow.
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New Zealand must win at Sharjah in order to level the series after losing the first Test in Abu Dhabi by 248 runs and drawing
And Hesson believes that a flat and grass-less Sharjah pitch will be tough to play on.
“In the other two pitches we could see grass but not here. This looks a bit different. Sharjah traditionally is lower and skiddier and
slows up as the game goes on. So I don’t expect this wicket to be any different,” said Hesson.
“The warm up game we had played here had a lot more grass on it. We have to play very well to be able to compete in these conditions.”
Sharjah cricket stadium has been a happy hunting ground for Pakistan since 1980s when they dominated one-day internationals. Earlier this year they chased down a tough 302-run target here to win a Test against Sri Lanka.
And Hesson admits that winning the toss will be of utmost importance in order to gain the upper hand in the test match.
“Toss does give great advantage, no doubt about it,” Hesson continued. “I think being able to bat first and third rather than second and fourth has advantages in this part of the world.
“But it does not mean you are out of the game, only thing is that it makes it a bit harder.”
The 40-year-old coach said his team’s improved performance in the second Test adds to the confidence in the camp and believes that his side's come from behind win against Sri Lanka back in 2012 to level the two-Test series 1-1 was also an inspiration.
“I think it was a great Test match and we gained a lot of confidence from that and we made big improvements from Abu Dhabi to
Dubai. But we know that Pakistan will come hard at us again and we have to be able to withstand them over long periods of time,” he added.
“We gained a lot of confidence from there and that was really impressive. The ball swung there (in Sri Lanka) and if the ball swings here it gives us more of a chance,” he continued.
The former Kenyan coach went on to praise Pakistan legspinner Yasir Shah who took career-best figures of 5-79 and left-armer
Zulfiqar Babar, who got eight wickets in the second Test.
“I think he (Shah) is a high quality bowler. In all conditions around the world he will be a challenge. He bowls at good pace and he has good variety and he bowls wicket taking delivers.
“Babar knows these conditions well and because of the pace he bowls and bowls wide of the crease he too is a challenge.”
Meanwhile, Pakistan coach Waqar Younis stressed his team needed to be careful after New Zealand’s resurgence.
“Test cricket is like that, you have to be cautious about any team, it doesn’t matter if it’s Australia or New Zealand,” he said.
“We drew the second Test but we are definitely capable of doing well and winning the series. We did not field well so we have
debated that and will certainly like improvement in that department.”
