1. The test starting today will be the 41st played at the Basin Reserve. The first was in 1929-30 (a draw against England); the most recent was New Zealand's 10-wicket win over India last December.
2. New Zealand have a good record at the Basin, having won 11, lost 12 and
drawn 17 tests. Of more relevance, they have won five of the last nine tests on the ground. Two have been drawn and the two losses were against South Africa in 1998-99 and Australia a year later.
3. New Zealand's biggest win at the Basin was by an innings and 105 runs, against the West Indies in 1999-00, a game most memorable for the double century on debut by Mathew Sinclair.
4. The biggest loss was also against the West Indies, by an innings and 322 runs in 1995. That stands as New Zealand's heaviest test defeat.
5. Pakistan have played five tests there, starting with their first tour of New Zealand in 1964-65. Four have been drawn and Pakistan won the other, in 1993-94, by an innings and 12 runs.
6. New Zealand batsmen have bagged 25 hundreds in Wellington tests. The biggest gap between tons on the ground was 42 years, from Giff Vivian's 100 against South Africa in 1932 to Bevan Congdon and Brian Hastings' hundreds against Australia in 1974.
7. New Zealand's most prolific century maker at the Basin is Martin Crowe, who hit five of his 17 centuries on the ground. His 299 against Sri Lanka in 1991 is New Zealand's highest test score.
8. And a thought for New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming: in the 11 wins at the Basin, New Zealand have won the toss on four occasions. Each time they sent the opposition in to bat.
