Craig believes 'patience' will pay for Kiwis in Pak Test series

New Zealand spinner Mark Craig is of the opinion that patience would be the key factor when his side faces Pakistan, who are on a high after two huge wins over Australia.

The first of New Zealand's three Tests against Pakistan begins on Sunday in Abu Dhabi, the same venue where their opponents last week completed a 2-0 sweep over the Australians.

Only once did world number two Australia manage to bowl out Pakistan over the four innings of their series and they picked up just nine wickets in the second Test, Stuff.co.nz reported.

Craig said that they have no doubt it would be hard graft, adding that they just need to stick to their plans and they would be right.

With the pitch at Sheikh Zayed Stadium giving firm indications of again favouring the slow bowlers, both Craig and leg-spinner Ish Sodhi could be expected to play.

Craig sees a bit of a holding game, a waiting game in prospect for New Zealand. He said that obviously spinners potentially could bowl a lot in this series there.

So, he added that it's just of matter of being nice and patient and not trying to force the wickets too early, and just being smart with their field placements.

Craig had an impressive debut series in New Zealand's 2-1 win in the West Indies in June, getting match figures of 8-188 in Kingston in his first Test, the report added.