Cricket: Black Caps face mammoth task

Brendon McCullum was on nine at stumps. Photo / Getty Images

Tonight presents a perfect opportunity for the New Zealand cricketers to demonstrate their progression, maturity and skill in the Mike Hesson/Brendon McCullum era.

Pakistan's luxury, in declaring at 566 for three in the first test at Abu Dhabi, disguises a largely consistent New Zealand bowling performance let down by a handful of fielding gaffes.

The batsmen now have to take that figure, post it to a backwater of their cerebral cortex, and concentrate on playing a Pakistan attack oozing confidence after taking 40 Australian wickets for a 2-0 series win.

New Zealand played their last test more than four months ago, so this will be a brutal exam for those whose most sustained form of batting since has been swashbuckling through segments of 20 overs.

Basic 'anything you can do' philosophy suggests if Pakistan batted the best part of two days on this wicket, New Zealand can do the same. However, that doesn't take into account the decay brought on by foot and pitch marks to aid a formidable spin attack.
There's also the weight of runs needed to placate the follow-on deficit.

Corey Anderson, described the pitch: "It's pretty slow. Especially when you put in the work that we did. It's long days in the dirt. We've got to toil away but it's hard to get anything out of it."

This New Zealand team need look no further than their performance in February when the world record sixth-wicket partnership of 352 between Brendon McCullum and B-J Watling saved the test against India at Wellington.

In essence, the New Zealanders have been victims of losing a toss. They will now pay a price for such luckless gambling. As opener Ahmed Shehzad pointed out at his post-century media conference on the first day: "You normally don't see turn on the first day, which makes it more comfortable for batsmen."

He surmised the first day of a test is the best for batting in this part of the world with the lack of grass wickets. After the first couple of days pitches are ready to crumble.

That opinion was reinforced succinctly by Younis Khan after scoring his 28th test century.
"If you have 500-plus runs on the board and quality spinners, you have a good chance to win."
ANDREW ALDERSON TRAVELLED TO THE UAE COURTESY OF EMIRATES