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New Zealand v Pakistan

New Zealand v Pakistan: Test team of the series

by Wisden Staff 3 minute read

Following New Zealand’s 2-0 series win over Pakistan – which sent them to top of the world Test rankings for the first time in their history – we’ve put together a team of the series.

Azhar Ali

2 matches, 173 runs @ 43.25

While no longer Pakistan’s captain, Azhar Ali remains a vital part of his country’s Test set-up, and was unlucky to fall seven runs short of a ton on day one of the second Test. Some gorgeous-looking straight drives highlighted that knock and he looked in fine nick in the second dig before Kyle Jamieson removed him with a round-the-wicket bumper. Contributed a dogged 120-ball 38 in Pakistan’s fourth-innings resistance in the first Test.

Kane Williamson (c)

2 matches, 388 runs @ 129.33

The No.1-ranked Test batsman in the world, and there’s not much room for an argument against that. Following on from his Test-best of 251 against West Indies, Williamson began the series with a masterful 129 and ended it with a gargantuan 238. Took a wicket too in New Zealand’s victory parade of a final day in the second Test.

Henry Nicholls

2 matches, 224 runs @ 74.66

Spending ample time alongside Williamson was Henry Nicholls, who entered the series on the back of a 174 against West Indies and finished it with a 157, joining forces with his captain for a partnership of 369, New Zealand’s third-highest in Test cricket.

Fawad Alam

2 matches, 129 runs @ 32.25

Eleven years on from his first Test ton, Fawad Alam had his second, and what a knock it was. As Pakistan battled to try and save the first Test, the unorthodox left-hander found the strength to battle for 269 balls in delivering his 102, undoubtedly the highlight of a gloomy series for the visitors.

Mohammad Rizwan (wk)

2 matches, 202 runs @ 50.50, 4 dismissals

With Babar Azam injured, Rizwan had to take on the captaincy, crouch behind the stumps for hours on end as Williamson did his thing and hold his side’s batting together – it was quite the effort. A model of consistency with the bat, he struck three half-centuries in his first three innings of the series, routinely saving his side’s credibility after a host of top- and middle-order failures.

Daryl Mitchell

1 match, 102 runs

Treated to a Pakistan attack run ragged by Williamson and Nicholls, the stage was set perfectly for Mitchell to strike his maiden Test century, one he raced to on day three of the second Test as New Zealand set about a declaration.

Faheem Ashraf

2 matches, 186 runs @ 46.50 | 3 wickets @ 54.66

Playing in his first Test series in nearly two years, Ashraf showed that he has a lot to offer Pakistan in red-ball cricket, hitting an impressive 91 in the first Test before falling just a couple of runs short of another half-century in the second.

Kyle Jamieson

2 matches, 16 wickets @ 11.68 | 62 runs @ 62

Test cricket looks an easy game for New Zealand’s new man-mountain. He took 16 of the 40 Pakistani wickets to fall in the series, his sharp pace and bounce making life incredibly difficult for the men at the other end. He’s not too shabby with the bat either.

Tim Southee

2 matches, 6 wickets @ 34.66

While there were no monster hauls, Southee reached an illustrious landmark in the first Test, becoming just the third New Zealander to reach 300 Test wickets.

Neil Wagner

1 match, 4 wickets @ 26.25

Bowling with fractured toes, Neil Wagner did what Neil Wagner does: he just kept on bowling. The reward for his pain on a dramatic final day in the first Test was the prized wicket of Fawad Alam. A ferocious competitor.

Trent Boult

2 matches, 9 wickets @ 29.77

The Black Caps’ reliable left-armer was overshadowed by Jamieson’s feats but enjoyed a solid series, picking up at least a couple of wickets in every innings.

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