Desert Odyssey: Which Black Caps have the most to win or lose in the United Arab Emirates?

On Wednesday, the Black Caps will fly to the UAE with three vacancies for their Twenty20 and ODI teams, and will ask questions about three or four places at the Gary Head Coach World Cup. Stead 15 for next year.

The race heats up as they watch Pakistan in three T20s, three ODIs and three tests in the desert, and Stead faces some headaches.

Martin Guptill's calf injury, outgoing opener, is bad news for him, but it is good for the others and opens up prospects for the fighter squad led by his young teammate in Auckland, Glenn Phillips.

We are looking at five black caps with a lot to gain from this tour, in preparation for the World Cup in the UK.

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GLENN PHILLIPS

At just 21, the South African had to face a tough battle to return to the Black Caps after playing five T20 home matches last summer.

After scoring 56 points against the West Indies, he struggled, was pushed further in the order and was dropped for the tri-series.

Back at the top of the standings, Phillips played 457 points in the Premier League of the Caribbean Premier League (second behind his potential, 567 opening of his partner for the opening of the Black Caps, Colin Munro) . Then, his two half-centuries for NZA contributed to the victory of the T20 series against Pakistan A last week.

Phillips fit and confident seems to be able to bet on his partner, Munro, at the top of the three T20 internationals, and although George Worker is looking for Guptill's position for the ODI, it would not be the worst idea to land Phillips in the first leg. Cricket and just see how it goes.

With Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor and Tom Latham forming the backbone, two top blasters could be an interesting bet to win in this modern 50 game.

TODD ​​ASTLE

It started well for the NZA in conditions favorable to the tandem rotation with Ajaz Patel, the potential partner of Astle in the series of three tests.

This is the battle between Legspin and Ish Sodhi in the ODI membership, with only one of them likely to qualify for the 15 World Cup, which will hold the 39th World Cup. intriguing for most of the summer.

Sodhi has the advantage in cricket in T20 and Astle hopes to see his rival covered in tests with a better full game, but in the ODI, the race is tight.

The absence of Mitchell Santner's knee injury until early next year puts more emphasis on Astle's striking ability, which will also serve him well in the future. race to the selection of the World Cup.

Stead will favor versatile players, but the mercurial Sodhi will improve with the bat and he's smashing the house in the UAE, it will be hard to ignore.

MATT HENRY

New Zealand winter player who captured 75 wins in 10 English county league games for Kent, the best of each division.

That was with the Dukes' balloon, the designer's friend, now that Henry is hitting the desert with a white and potentially red Kookaburra, though it's unlikely that he be present in the tests unless injuries occur. Trent Boult and Neil Wagner are certain to see the likely pair of testers with two spinners.

So it's at ODI cricket that Henry can keep running, and with the balloon behaving badly under the lights, it will be an essential weapon for Captain Kane Williamson with a place in the World Cup team to lose too.

Henry's place in the hierarchy of tests will be the subject of debate when he returns home to face Sri Lanka. Tim Southee will look over his shoulder as the senior official heads to the UAE to regain his full form after a knee injury.

Convenient with the racket, Henry's form could also help his cause, with the test stain No. 8 safely held by anyone.

Adam MILNE

A man forgotten by New Zealand speed bowlers, Milne was the third Black Caps sailor at the 2015 World Cup until his injury gave Henry a semifinal spot against Africa. from South.

Since March 2015, Milne has only played 18 ODI and is no longer on the list since Kanpur last October.

Lockie Ferguson, who was the fastest in the country, was slowed by Milne's pace, but he was still efficient in the T20 Blast for Kent and managed to tie in and play in first-class cricket for Central Stags .

Milne and Ferguson are probably competing for a World Cup spot, and Stead is keen to face them in the tandem of the T20 series against Pakistan and give them the opportunity in the summer at home. ODI to show if they can hit the ball to provide a vital life point. difference.

JEET RAVAL

Stead's lines of concern will be significantly eased with the start of Raval's national season in Auckland.

The incumbent player scored 102 goals against Wellington and added 57 in the second leg of his loss to Central Stags on Friday.

This was a major relief for Raval, whose previous 12 first class assaults – including in Yorkshire and last season at home – recorded a record score of 21.

He is now traveling to the United Arab Emirates to play two four-day matches for the NZA against Pakistan A and show that his off-season performance in India has paid off.

Raval records an average of 38 out of 11 tests but has never played outside of New Zealand, and will certainly be tested by Pakistani twirlers next month on the dust rolls.

From an eye catch

Black Caps v Pakistan to United Arab Emirates (NZ times):

November 1st: 1st T20, Abu Dhabi, 5h

November 3rd: 2nd T20, Dubai, 5am

November 5th: 3rd T20, Dubai, 5h

November 8th: 1st ODI, Abu Dhabi, 1h

November 10th: 2nd ODI, Abu Dhabi, 1h

November 12: 3rd ODI, Dubai, 1h

16-20 November: 1st test, Abu Dhabi, 19h

Nov. 24-28: 2nd try, Dubai, 7pm

3-7 December: 3rd test, Abu Dhabi, 19h