Third Test preview: Pakistan v New Zealand

The action moves from Dubai to Sharjah for the third Test between Pakistan and New Zealand, with the hosts leading the series one-nil after forcing a draw in the second match.
Form a slow deck to an even slower one, which has prompted the Kiwis to call on veteran spinner Daniel Vettori, who was already in the area with the A side. If he plays, they'll have three specialist spinners, a rarity for the Black Caps.
It's an emergency measure for the visitors, who have not had the best luck in the spin department, while the opposition slow bowlers have had a party. Vettori has not played a Test in two years, but will be in focus if he plays.
Pakistan's batsmen will be looking forward to the game, with openers Taufeeq Umar and Shan Masood eager to make up for their failures in Dubai. Younis Khan and the middle order were asked to do all the work in Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammad Hafeez's absence.
New Zealand's batsmen will not be quite as keen to get on the park though, with Zulfiqur Babar and Yasir Shah in fine fettle with the ball and going onto a deck made for them. Tom Latham will want to cement his good form though, after his earlier tons.
Senior batsmen Kane Williamson and Brendon McCullum's failure have made a notable impact so far, and they'll want to get flowing again given their talent for playing spin. Ross Taylor did the job with a valuable ton though, which led to the draw.
With the weather set to be hot and clear all five days, the pitch will bake and crack, making life very tough for the batsmen who go second and fourth. A win for Pakistan, given their stronger spin line-ups, seems on the cards.
Key Men
For the hosts, spinner Zulfiqur Babar will look to add to his 13 wickets, the most in the series thus far, on the slow track. He has been very impressive, and has sent down a whopping 24 maidens.
The Black Caps will look to opening batsman Tom Latham to try and get them off to a solid start, no matter when they bat. He scored tons in each game so far, without a win resulting, and will need to get a Daddy Hundred in the bank this time.
Last Five Head-To-Head Results
2014: Second Test: Match drawn in Dubai
2014: First Test: Pakistan won by 248 runs in Abu Dhabi
2011: Second Test: Match drawn in Wellington
2011: First Test: Pakistan won by 10 wickets in Hamilton
2009: Third Test: Match drawn in Napier
Squads
Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Ehsan Adil, Haris Sohail, Imran Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Talha, Rahat Ali, Sarfraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper), Shan Maqsood, Taufeeq Umar, Yasir Shah, Younis Khan, Zulfiqar Babar
New Zealand: Hamish Rutherford, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum (captain), Corey Anderson, BJ Watling (wicketkeeper), Luke Ronchi, Jimmy Neesham, Mark Craig, Tim Southee, Doug Bracewell, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult, Ish Sodhi, Dan Vettori
Dates: 26-30 November
Morning session: 10:00-12:00 (06:00-08:00 GMT)
Afternoon session: 12:40-14:40 (08:40-10:40 GMT)
Evening session: 15:00-17:00 (11:00-13:00 GMT)
On-field umpires: Rod Tucker and Paul Reiffel
Third umpire: Ranmore Martinesz
Match referee: Andy Pycroft
Latest
-
News
George Scrimshaw holds final-over nerves to guide Derbyshire past Lancashire
Scrimshaw successfully defended the 10 runs in the final over.
-
England
Jonny Bairstow and England looking to ‘take the game forward’
Bairstow hit a run-a-ball hundred for the second Test in succession as England fought back spectacularly against New Zealand.
-
England
Jonny Bairstow century leads thrilling England fightback at Headingley
The Yorkshireman made 130 not out and put on 209 with debutant Jamie Overton to rescue his side from 55 for six against New Zealand.
-
England
England top order left in tatters as New Zealand gain upper hand at Headingley
The hosts were 93 for six in reply to New Zealand’s 329 all out.
-
New Zealand
Daryl Mitchell breaks record with another century against England
Mitchell broke Martin Donnelly’s New Zealand tally of 492 runs in a series in England, set back in 1949.
-
England
Superb James Vince ton leads Hampshire to shock win over Somerset
Sussex’s five-match losing streak came to an end with a 17-run win over Surrey.
-
England
Adil Rashid to miss England’s India white-ball series to make Mecca pilgrimage
Rashid has found it difficult to make the pilgrimage due to timings and commitments.
-
England
Jack Leach pleased with good luck but admits freak dismissal no collector’s item
New Zealand closed the opening day of the final Test against England on 225 for five after Henry Nicholls was dismissed in bizarre fashion.
-
England
Stuart Broad stars on day one for England but error of judgement proves costly
Broad kept a week of celebrations going strong by striking before a run had been added and followed with the key scalp of Kane Williamson.
-
England
Matthew Mott expects England whitewash to ‘light fire’ under captain Eoin Morgan
Mott made an ideal start in his new role with a 3-0 one-day clean sweep of the Netherlands.