The New Zealand cricketers run of 12 straight wins this summer might come under threat in the T20 series against Pakistan but don't be surprised if the Black Caps extend that record by another three.
Kane Williamson celebrates with Tom Latham. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The three-match series starts in Wellington today with the top ranked New Zealanders taking on the number two ranked Pakistanis.
New Zealand completed a five-nil sweep of Pakistan in the one-day series and will take that confidence into the shortest version of the game, while Pakistan will be hoping the change in format brings a change in their fortunes.
Black Caps spinner Mitchell Santner was asked if the side is really this good.
"We are playing some pretty good cricket at the moment, as a team were gelling nicely and I think it's a credit to the environment."
"If some people fail then others are stepping up and that's what you want."
"Obviously we've got a couple of new faces in the T20 side, but in saying that we had a convincing T20 series against the West Indies, so it's a team that has momentum as well."
New Zealand will rest Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson, Tim Southee and Ross Taylor at various stages during the series allowing the likes of Glenn Phillips, Seth Rance, Tom Bruce, Anaru Kitchen, Ish Sodhi and Ben Wheeler to come in from the domestic game and try to impress.
Ahmed Shehzad returns to the Pakistan line-up.
Blackcaps bowler Matt Henry celebrates a wicket with the team. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Much of the Black Caps success in the one day series was their ability to take early Pakistan wickets and Santner says that'll also be the case in the T20's.
"You know if you can get wickets in the power play, especially in T20, it's key, it's crucial, if they get off to a flyer they can then kinda milk it for a couple and then go big at the end."
"So that's what we're trying to do as a team, be very aggressive at the top, always look to take wickets first and then later on you might have to defend but our philosophy is to take early poles."
The highest score at Westpac Stadium is 196.
Heading into this game Martin Guptill is third on the list of most international T20 runs with 1926, 30 runs behind Virat Kohli and 214 runs behind Brendon McCullum.
-RNZ
