Writing for his blog on the Black Caps’ website ahead of the side’s departure for a three Test series against Pakistan in the UAE, Hesson outlined the dangers the sub-continental side poses.
“They’re unlike a lot of Asian sides, in that seam bowling has been one of their strengths over the years,” he said.
“They have high quality pace bowlers who can perform in both the sub-continent and our conditions.
“They’re also a side of match-winners, and when you combine their unorthodox style with a high skill level they’re a pretty formidable outfit.”
The Black Caps have only won two of 19 Test series against Pakistan with just seven Test victories from 50 attempts.
Pakistan are ranked sixth in the world but comprehensively defeated Australia last week and will be at home on the slow, turning pitches in the UAE.
“While it might be our first ever Test in the UAE, we know the pitches will have little grass, pace or bounce,” Hesson wrote.
“They’ll be low and skiddy surfaces that will turn more as the match goes on.
“Temperatures will be in the mid-30s with a dry heat that really saps your energy. They don’t call Test cricket a war of attrition for nothing, so the warm-up match against Pakistan A starting on Monday will be critical to acclimatising to those conditions.”
With the One-Day World Cup due to start in February, it’s not the ideal time to switch into Test match mode, but Hesson says it’s a chance for the team to work on key areas of the game.
“While our team heads to the UAE after three consecutive Test series victories, we know we’re still a young Test side that’s developing by the day.
“I’d like to see us develop in two areas on this tour. The first is our ability to take wickets on un-responsive surfaces, and the second is that our batsmen all have a method to cope when the ball starts turning, to both defend and to score.
“If we can achieve those two tasks, we’ll go some way to improving our poor record against Pakistan which saw us last win a series against them back in 1985.”
The Black Caps’ first match is against Pakistan A on November 3 before the first of three Tests against Pakistan starting on November 9.