Kiwis Looking For A Consolation Win In The Last ODI Against Pakistan
The series between New Zealand and Pakistan is already decided as the visitors took an unassailable lead of 3-1 after the fifth ODI at Hamilton.
However both teams have a lot to play for in the last ODI at http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 World Cup 2011 just round the corner. All of a sudden, the Green Shirts appear a much settled unit in the limited overs cricket, leaving behind all the controversies
they had to face in 2010. On the other hand, New Zealand cricket does not look in good shape as it has faced a run of embrassing defeats in last three months.
Pakistan won its first ODI series since their victory against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760 in 2008. The most impressive thing about the Green Shirts in the current tour of New Zealand has been the fighting spirit and the unity amongst the team, which is usually not associated
with a Pakistani outfit.
Pakistani victories are usually a result of individual brilliance but their triumph against the Black Caps is a result of a team effort. Senior players like Shahid Afridi and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Misbah-ul-Haq-c1972 have led the young team from the front, whereas the youngsters like
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Wahab-Riaz-c95839 also performed well under pressure.
Pakistani team would definitely consider playing Saeed Ajmal in the last ODI as he is expected to play a crucial role in the World Cup where the pitches are bound to help the slow bowlers.
The unity amongst the Pakistani team is quite exemplary at the moment as Pakistani captain Shahid Afridi said that, "it doesn't make a difference whether Misbah leads the side or I lead the side because we both are playing for our country."
Kiwis on the other hand have failed to find the right combination as the selectors have rotated the playing 11 throughout the series. New Zealand coach http://www.senore.com/Cricket/John-Geoffrey-Wright-c67883 does not seem to be happy with this trend as he wants a settled squad to move in the right
direction. "I am not a fan of rotation. You try to pick your strongest side. It gives you the best chance of winning and getting some momentum going," Wright said in a statement.
The Kiwis are expected to bring back Tim Southee in the playing 11 as he has been http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755’s tour of New Zealand. Daniel Vettori is also expected to recover within time and he would love to taste success in the last match
as it would be New Zealand’s last ODI before the mega event.
Pakistan (possible playing 11): 1 Ahmed Shehzad, 2 http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shoaib-Akhtar-c90080 /
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Saeed-Ajmal-c87859
New Zealand (possible playing 11): 1 http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Hamish-Kyle-Bennett-c61366,
11 http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KD-Mills-c1781.
Tags: