It wasn't suppose to be like this; the Blackcaps were meant to be climbing the Test cricket standings with consistent improvements and immense competition for places. Brendon McCullum retired and left behind a gear-bag full of good vibes which had us hopeful about where our Test cricket team were heading, one look at the facts suggests otherwise.

2016 has seen the Blackcaps suck.

vs Australia: 52-run loss.
vs Australia: 7-wicket loss.
vs Zimbabwe: Inns and 117-run win.
vs Zimbabwe: 254-run win.
vs South Africa: Draw (that slippery dip outfield Test)
vs South Africa: 204-run loss.
vs India: 197-run loss.
vs India: 178-run loss.
vs India: 321-run loss.

In many other professional sports, a team who has lost six of their last nine games ... or should I say six of seven games against decent opposition would be putting a mountain of pressure on their coach. Scratch the surface a bit deeper and you'll find a Blackcaps team that has lost most of the identity that was a hallmark of McCullum's captaincy as well as a team that just generally looks confusing. Throughout 2016/throughout the Blackcaps' recent struggles, Hesson's selections have left me scratching my head, pondering if Hesson has even drafted up a plan moving forward for this team.

Most notably though, the way Aotearoa's Test team has crumbled without much fight against the best nations is a sign of just how far they have gone backwards. McCullum instilled a swashbucklin' identity/culture within this team and this allowed the Blackcaps to get away with a lack of grit, determination and just pure guts to really work hard for a mere draw as attacking is an alternative method, neither better or worse, just alternative. Without that attacking mentality, the Blackcaps can't fall back on that default and either aren't good enough or don't want to earn a draw.

Hence we have four straight losses in which the Blackcaps have lost by more than 100 runs. Take that further and a 7-wicket loss is in similar territory to loosing by more than 100 runs, losing by 7 wickets after a 52-run loss in Aotearoa on pitches that our cricketers were apparently going to have an advantage on, just feels like a 100-run loss. The Blackcaps haven't been able to fight for a draw, they haven't even been able to hang with Australia, South Africa and India.

Now they face Pakistan.

pic.twitter.com/XTH2CTcOHc
— Sami Aslam (@Samiaslam999) October 23, 2016

Pakistan are heading in a completely different direction to Aotearoa and have proved to be a menacing team to face in the United Arab Emirates, while also being good enough to win/draw away from home. That shouldn't come as a surprise when you consider that all six of the batsmen who are likely to form their batting line up (Sami Aslam, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Younus Khan, Misbah ul Haq, Sarfraz Ahmed) average over 40 in Test cricket, or that they have a leg-spinner in Yasir Shah who has rapidly put himself alongside India's Ravi Ashwin in the 'World's Best Spinner' conversation.

The batting and Shah's attacking leg-spin makes Pakistan formidable in the UAE, while their seam attack gives them a potent edge in foreign conditions. You'll know of Mohammad Amir or Wahab Riaz, but it was Sohail Khan's seam bowling that enjoyed the most success in England for Pakistan (apart from Shah). There's depth with the ball as well, with Rahat Ali and Imran Khan capable of enjoying kiwi conditions should Amir, Riaz or Sohail get injured ... or just not be deemed good enough.

I'd definitely listen to an argument that Pakistan are close to a perfect Test cricket team and could be better suited to greater success in foreign conditions than India are. This would make Pakistan the true No.1 Test Team in the World and they come to Aotearoa looking to ensure that the world knows of their claim to that title. Regardless of what India does against England, if Pakistan can win a Test or both in Aoteaora, Test cricket fans around the world will know all about their quality.

As kiwi Test cricket fans, we need to prepare ourselves for a possible 2-0 series win to Pakistan. Dramatic, sure but it's definitely a possibility and preparation for that will lessen the blow when Pakistan win the series 1-0, which I think is the most likely situation.

When comparing the two teams, Aotearoa can only really compete strongly in the seam-bowling ranks.

Pakistan's batting line up is better than a Blackcaps batting line up in which Kane Williamson and Tom Latham are the only positives, with Jeet Raval set to make his debut. Usually making your debut as an opener against a touring sub-continent team would be all good, facing a moving ball at 145km/h and then having to face the best leggy we've seen since Shane Warne; yeah, nah.

Shah is the best leggy we've seen since Warne and he'll face off against Todd Astle. No Mitchell Santner, no Ish Sodhi and no Jeetan Patel who have all been used in recent times, but Astle. Astle's been great in domestic cricket and thoroughly deserves his shot, although he's not quite as good as Shah, is he?

Sarfraz Ahmed vs BJ Watling? Poor old BJ has just a 58 against Australia as a score of real note this year (107 and 83* vs Zimbabwe) and in his past eight innings' he hasn't passed 32 runs. Ahmed has an average of 43.50 and a strike-rate of 72.88, while Watling has an average of 38.01 and a 44.83sr.

Neil Wagner is the bloke who has me feeling just a tad optimistic about the kiwis' seam attack and with Tim Southee diving straight back into the wickets for Northern Districts on a seaming deck, we should expect the Blackcaps bowlers to be better. Wagner and Southee will likely be joined by Trent Boult and these three should be dangerous on pre-Christmas kiwi pitches.
Whether Southee and Boult can keep improving and become a genuine force in Test cricket is the key question for the Blackcaps. What Pakistan's seamers do in Aotearoa will be a key focus for me as they have the skills and pace to put our bowlers in the shade.

The seamers kinda sums up how I'm feeling about this two Test series (death to two Test series'!!!!!!) as the kiwi seamers should be better than Pakistan's, but I don't think they will be. Southee and Boult - like the Blackcaps - have reached a plateau and this Test series is an opportunity leave that plateau to embark on a climb; I'm very cautious about whether that opportunity will be snapped up or not