Shane Bond urges batsmen to deliver

Shane Bond has said New Zealand's bowling attack has what it takes to succeed against Pakistan, but believes the key to winning the upcoming Test series is the batsmen posting large totals.

Bond is set to end his two-year period out of the Test team because of his involvement with the unofficial ICL when New Zealand take on Pakistan in Dunedin on Tuesday. "We need runs really. I think if you're going to win Test matches you need big runs," Bond told PA Sport.

"I suppose that's been the one area that we've lacked a little bit is scoring those consistent big runs from the top of the order. I think if we can get runs on the board then we definitely have the bowling attack to take wickets."

In their last Test series in Sri Lanka in August, New Zealand failed to reach 300 in three out of four innings and lost the series 2-0. The responsibility of providing the New Zealand bowlers with totals to protect will lie with Martin Guptill and Tim McIntosh at the top, followed by the middle order comprising Daniel Flynn, Ross Taylor and Peter Fulton. Daniel Vettori, whose batting form is on the upswing, will also play a vital role in the lower-middle order.

Guptill's one-day form has been satisfactory, with three half-centuries in his last seven innings, but he hasn't made a Test fifty in nine attempts. His likely opening partner, McIntosh, scored a century against the Pakistanis during a warm-up match in Queenstown, while Flynn spent time in the middle as well, scoring 49 and 56.