Top 5 players to watch out for in the Pakistan-New Zealand Test series

As Pakistan prepare to take on New Zealand, there is a settled feel about their line-up in Tests. They haven't lost a series since August 2014 and look like a strong outfit with an ever stronger leader in Misbah-ul-Haq at the helm.

The controversy around Amir's comeback and Hafeez's action is old news now and Pakistan come on the back of having played some very good Test cricket in recent times. They may have lost against West Indies in their final Test, but it wasn't before they had won the series already.

The Kiwis, meanwhile, had a horrendous tour of India where they were humbled in the Tests, clueless against India's spinners and a wobbling middle order adding to the cause. But in home conditions, New Zealand are a team to beat as they showed in the 2015 World Cup. They have some really good names in their line-up and despite being overwhelmed by India, should take on Pakistan with confidence.

Let us take a look through five players to watch out for in this series from either side.

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#5 Mohammad Amir

The controversial left arm seamer has not repeated his fairy tale run prior to his ban, after returning to the Pakistani set-up. However, he has shown enough promise and produced lethal spells in between pedestrian performances to show that the talent is still there.

He had just 6 wickets to show for in the two Tests that he played against the Windies and was certainly not performing to potential. In England, he picked up two five-wicket hauls and looked like the seamer Pakistan wanted him to be.

A return to swinging conditions that suits his style of bowling might be just what Amir needs. Given New Zealand's batsmen are on the back of some mediocre performances, Amir's probing swing could pose a problem.

#4 Tom Latham

Latham was one of the few positives for New Zealand in their disastrous Indian series

The Kiwi opener was the most solid batsman in the line-up on their tour to India. That he shadowed someone like Kane Williamson shows how far Latham has come as an opener. He has shown a temperament to bat out of difficult situations and play long innings'.

Latham has had a fine year, scoring two hundreds and four half-centuries, 3 of those half-centuries coming against India in India. His solidity and fluency at the crease is something to behold and Kiwis seem to have finally unearthed a terrific Test opener.

His home record isn't exactly impressive with an average under 30 and this might be the right time to correct that. He is in fine nick and can take his good form to find runs that have gone missing in his own backyard.

#3 Azhar Ali

Ali has been one of the biggest finds in Pakistani cricket

Ali has been a great find Pakistan in recent times. Not only has he lent a solidity to a shaky top order, he has also displayed a penchant for staying at the crease for long and scoring big. His triple hundred against Windies last month was the stuff of dreams and he followed that up with scores of 79 and 91 in the same series.

New Zealand conditions provide a different challenge to Azhar Ali and given his technique, he should be able to handle the swing and extra pace with ease.

He has an average over 50 in the last two years and boasts of an average of 64.8 this year. With Sharjeel selected, Azhar may get to bat at his favoured no.3 position, though his triple hundred as an opener means he could open the innings here as well.

#2 Trent Boult

Boult could form a lethal partnership with Southee

Boult is quickly growing into one of the best swing bowlers in the world and in breezy conditions, should return to his groove. He was a revelation in the 2015 World Cup with his ability to swing the ball late into the right-hander making him a handful on helpful wickets.

Despite unhelpful wickets, he bowled his heart out in India and showed that he had the skill to survive on sub-continental wickets. Though he hardly reversed the ball, his late swing and consistent lines caused a few problems for Indian batsmen.

Pakistan are famous for collapsing against good bowling and Boult is the leader of the Kiwis bowling line-up. With Southee warming up well with a 5-fer in the domestic circuit, Boult could continue a deadly partnership with him and destroy Pakistan's wobbly batting line-up.

#1 Kane Williamson

Williamson will look to get back to winning ways at home

Williamson did not have a great Indian Test tour by his standards and failed to counter Ashwin's skill with the ball. In home conditions, though, he is a beast and could return to his best once again.

He has scored only one hundred in Tests in the whole year, despite scoring as many as 5 half centuries. The conversion rate should bother him given that the other experienced batsman in the line-up, Ross Taylor is woefully out of touch.

His last knock at home was against the Aussies in Christchurch, where he scored a fighting 97 against some fiery bowling. A return to this ground for the first match of this series could bring out the best in this young batsman. His captaincy will also be monitored carefully during the course of this series.