Cricket: Quieter pitch for Pakistan pacemen

By RICHARD BOOCK

There were two slices of luck for Auckland's international players yesterday - the chance to play Pakistan's full-strength side in the tour opener, and the transfer of the match to Eden Park's outer oval.

Viewed as an opportunity for New Zealand test openers Mark Richardson and Lou Vincent to have a sneak preview of the Pakistan attack, the three-dayer was scheduled for Eden Park's No 1 ground.

The official word is that rain had affected the pitch preparation at the main ground, forcing the transfer of the match to the outer oval.

The unofficial word is that the Auckland players, when it was pointed out that they may be facing two of the world's fastest bowlers on an under-prepared green-top, expressed a wish for browner pastures.

Starting tomorrow, the tour match will now be played on the same strip used for the Auckland-Otago State Championship game, a surface that should not be overly taxed given the rain this week.

Adding interest is the likelihood Pakistan will field their strongest team as it is their only opportunity for match practice in New Zealand conditions before the test.

"We'll definitely try to field a full-strength side," coach Javed Miandad said yesterday.

"It's our only three-dayer before the test and we have to try to expose the players we want to use."

That should mean an early outing for express merchants Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami, who have enjoyed spectacular success against New Zealand sides.

Akhtar blasted out the Kiwis at Lahore last year, taking career-best figures of six for 11 and levelling the woodwork of Matt Horne, Mark Richardson, Chris Harris, Stephen Fleming and Chris Martin.

And Sami was just as devastating in the first test at Auckland three summers ago, when he ripped through New Zealand's second innings, taking five for 34 and consigning the hosts to a 299-run defeat.

Both have been in compelling form lately and are sure to be a handful on the outer oval surface, even if the pitch has already seen three days of wear and tear.

Miandad said his squad had made progress since the disappointment of the World Cup and were encouraged by the performances at home against South Africa, let alone the 5-0 whitewash of New Zealand.

"I'm very happy with the way they're playing," he said.

"The young batsmen are learning day by day and are improving all the time. If they keep performing like they have been, our future is bright."

He was not overly concerned about the prospect of another seam-friendly pitch for the test match at Hamilton, and said he would wait until Friday before drawing any conclusions.

Auckland's side will include New Zealand one-day players Tama Canning, Paul Hitchcock and Kerry Walmsley, whose last experience at the hands of Pakistan was the 5-0 series loss.

The trio will come into the team for Aaron Barnes, Michael Bates and Craig Pryor, all of whom were in the 12 for the match against Otago.

Auckland: Brooke Walker (capt), Andre Adams, Tama Canning, Paul Hitchcock, Matt Horne, Tim McIntosh, Kyle Mills, Rob Nicol, Mark Richardson, Lou Vincent, Kerry Walmsley, Reece Young.

Pakistan (from): Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), Taufeeq Umar, Imran Farhat, Saleem Elahi, Yasir Hameed, Yousuf Youhana, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Asim Kamal, Younis Khan, Moin Khan, Shoaib Malik, Danish Kaneria, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami, Shabbir Ahmed, Umar Gul.