Cricket: Freshness a benefit - Bond

Black Caps bowling coach Shane Bond. Photo / NZME.

Shane Bond hopes New Zealand's freshness can work in their favour in their demanding series against Pakistan starting next Sunday.

New Zealand's trip to the United Arab Emirates - Pakistan's home away from home since 2009 - begins with a three-day game against Pakistan A in Sharjah, starting tonight. The first of the three tests follows in Abu Dhabi.

Australia have been in the UAE since October 5, so Pakistan, who start the final day of the second and last test later today, won't exactly be fresh.

New Zealand, by contrast, have warmed up with a game against Scotland and two and a bit ODIs against South Africa, the last game being washed out last week.

You could argue that might leave them underdone. If you're Shane Bond, New Zealand's bowling coach, you see it differently.

"We look at it that we're fresh," the former champion fast bowler said yesterday.

"The first test in particular is really important. We need to hit the ground running and if we do we are quietly confident we can play some good cricket."

Pakistan have been among the most difficult teams for New Zealand to beat over the 59 years they have been facing each other.

"This is a good challenge on the back of what has been a good last year for us, and the fact Pakistan are playing so well," Bond said.

"This is going to be a really good measure of where we are at as a team, so we're really looking forward to it."

Time spent in the field will be vital over the next three days.

New Zealand's last test was in the Caribbean in June. Getting fielding time into the legs ahead of potentially long days while Pakistan are batting is important.

So too bowlers getting their lengths right for the conditions, and batsmen making sure the ball finds the middle of their bats to give a jab of confidence.

Bond expects New Zealand's spinners, offspinner Mark Craig and legspinner Ish Sodhi, to find Pakistan's batsmen putting some heat on them with their approach, but pointed out they did well in the Caribbean.

"We know the way they're going to play our spinners and if they do I'm confident the boys will do a good job."