DUBAI // New Zealand coach Mike Hesson said on Saturday that his side have proved they can take on top nations away from home.
Hesson said the tense draw in the second Test against Pakistan that finished on Friday in Dubai had proved the point.
Pakistan batted out for a draw after they were set a challenging 261-run target in a possible 72 overs on the fifth and final day.
Pakistan finished at 196-6, 65 short of the target to keep their 1-0 lead in the series with the final Test in Sharjah on Wednesday. Pakistan won the first Test by 248 runs in Abu Dhabi.
"We certainly get confidence from here, I think the fact that we kept Pakistan under pressure shows that we are improving," said Hesson, who took over as coach in July 2012. New Zealand won their last series in the West Indies 2-1 in June.
“We’ve always been challenging at home, now we have performing well away from home in the last 12 months and to do well in the subcontinent in spinning conditions show we are heading in the right direction,” Hesson said.
Hesson ruled out a Test return for the experienced Daniel Vettori, who is here for the one-day squad. “Its nice to see him back in the one-day cricket but a Test match might be too far for him,” said Hesson of the spinner who has not played a Test since July 2012 because of injuries.
Vettori last month played his first one-day match in 15 months and will be part of the two Twenty20 and five one-day games against Pakistan.
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