Mark Richardson: Pakistan series will test our spinners

Mark Craig. Photo/ AP

There are two key players for New Zealand in this test series against Pakistan and the shame is they are arguably not that important in the context of this season.

Ish Sodhi and Mark Craig will find conditions to suit in the UAE and this series will become a 'spin off' between the two countries.

If New Zealand are to win, they must take meaningful wickets. The ability to take opportunities is an important skill for any specialist cricket player if they want to be on the scene for any length of time and these two attacking spin bowlers should be licking their chops right now in anticipation.

Sodhi and Craig are crucial to this test series but are unlikely to play any part in the World Cup and I have to admit I find it hard to prioritise my thoughts on test-match cricket with the 50-over event front of most cricket followers' minds.

If the Black Caps are to be believed, they say they are not prepared to jeopardise the integrity of their test game in pursuit of ODI development and, for that, I respect them. They have resisted the urge to select a test team with the ODI squad in mind.

However, I can't help but see the main benefit of these two test matches as much more than time in the middle and overs under the belt.

If you're into endurance sport, as I am nowadays, look at the four test matches New Zealand play before launching into an extensive ODI schedule as the base period of the season's programme.

It's the Lydiard principle - long aerobic runs building a solid endurance base and more strength when you refine down for the requirements of the middle distance event that the 50-over game is. So the structure of this season is perfect.

That said, the players who will feature later next year can actually do Sodhi and Craig a great service by using their test time wisely. If Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor and Brendon McCullum can show good technique against the Pakistan spin bowlers and put up good totals then Sodhi and Craig can bowl with the freedom to attack.

Runs on the board will allow these three key players time in the middle but will also mean bowlers like Tim Southee and Trent Boult can also get overs under the belt without having to shoulder the bulk of the workload.

Remember, the base period of the Lydiard plan involves easy running ... not overtraining.

I hope McCullum can win the toss tonight because, if the recent Australian series over there is anything to go by, the first two days are the only two days to bat for any length of time.

If the Black Caps are forced into bowling first, sure, they might all get plenty of time in the field but when you're getting pounded into the dust and then playing catch-up all game it never really feels like quality time in the middle.