DUBAI: New Zealand cricket captain Brendon McCullum warms up before a net practice session at Dubai International Stadium here Sunday. — AFP DUBAI, Nov 16 (AFP): Rival captains Brendon McCullum and Misbah-ul Haq agreed Sunday that winning the toss would be important to the outcome of the second Test between Pakistan and New Zealand starting here Monday.
McCullum called heads and it came out tails in the toss in the first Test in Abu Dhabi which Pakistan won by 248 runs last week for a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
"It will be a pretty important toss, from what happened in the last game," said McCullum.
"We have made some improvements from our last match. I am confident my guys will step up and make some adjustments and put in a good performance."
New Zealand's trial by spin will continue as the Dubai stadium pitch is likely to take more turn, a challenge McCullum was ready for.
"I spoke to someone the other day who said it is going to be a juicy wicket and when I asked if it was juicy for seam he said it is juicy for spin. It does not surprise me. You have to expect this when you come to this part of the world," said McCullum.
Pakistan were effective in both spin and reverse swing with left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar taking five wickets, leggie Yasir Shah four and seamer Rahat Ali six in the first Test.
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