Hesson lauds New Zealand's undefeated Test series run

NZ coach believes the proactive strategy helped them outclass Pakistan

DUBAI: New Zealand coach Mike Hesson Tuesday lauded his team's unbeaten Test series run and the bounce back against Pakistan to level the three Tests.

New Zealand thumped Pakistan by an innings and 80 runs to win the third and final Test in Sharjah on Sunday, levelling the series 1-1.

Pakistan won the first Test by 248 runs in Abu Dhabi while the second Test in Dubai ended in a draw.

"To be able to bounce back from 0-1 gave the team a lot of satisfaction," said Hesson.

"It is very difficult to survive when you have four guys around the bat, and often the only way to change that is to be pretty proactive," he said of Pakistan's spin attack.

"I think there's no doubt we probably took that to extremes at times and some of the strokeplay was astounding, really, and that allowed us to play with no guys around the bat and push a lot of singles."

This becomes the fifth series in which New Zealand remain undefeated since losing to England in 2013.

Since then New Zealand drew a two-Test series 0-0 in Bangladesh, beat the West Indies 2-0 with one Test drawn (at home), beat India 1-0 with one drawn (home) and beat the West Indies 2-1 in an away series.

Brendon McCullum led the batting charge with a blistering 188-ball 202 while Kane Williamson made 192 in New Zealand's highest-ever Test total of 690 in Sharjah.

That innings included a world record of 22 sixes, beating the 17 smashed by Australia against Zimbabwe at Perth in 2003.

"There's a lot of satisfaction from the group and how we've got about it in different conditions," Hesson continued, adding that he hoped the rhythm will be carried into the limited over series, starting with the two Twenty20s in Dubai on Thursday and Friday.

"I think if you're able to set the game up with top-order runs over here, then you allow your power to come later on and put the cream on.

"Pakistan is a side that keeps attacking throughout the innings so if our top-order players are able to set that platform then that gives us a chance to set good scores."

The Twenty20s will be followed by five one-day internationals, the first in Dubai on Monday.

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