Spin bowler Will Somerville was named for his Blackcaps debut, as the New Zealand cricketers attempt to capture a rare away test-series victory over Pakistan in Abu Dhabi.
Skipper Kane Williamson won the toss and elected to bat first in their third and deciding test, having won a thrilling first encounter at the same venue, but losing the second match by more than an innings.
New Zealand management made two changes to the team that took the field for those two previous outings - pace bowler Tim Southee replaced Neil Wagner and Somerville was selected ahead of fellow tweaker Ish Sodhi.
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Somerville, 34, was born in Wellington, but has spent recent years in Australia, playing for New South Wales.
Regarded as a potential Australian international, he struggled to overtake Nathan Lyons and Steve O'Keefe on the pecking order and returned across the Tasman to push his New Zealand claims.
He was called into the national side for this tour to the UAE and will partner fellow spinner Ajaz Patel - also on his first Blackcaps campaign. Somerville becomes New Zealand's 275th test representative and oldest debutant in 50 years.
Earlier, Williamson admitted winning the toss would be crucial to his side's chances of pulling off a series victory. Six of the last seven tests at Sheikh Zayed Stadium have been won by the side batting first - or bowling last.
"We're really excited to be involved in a decider here," he said Williamson. "We know how tough it is to come over to the UAE to play Pakistan, a very strong side that know these conditions well.
"The second game certainly wasn't the performance we wanted to put out, but there are still some positives we will need to build from. If we step back and see it as one-all going into the last, it's a really exciting prospect."
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