Pakistan in their turn lost their recent series against the Black Caps in New Zealand 2-0.

De Kock who is set for his 50th Test next week says that Pakistan will be a different kettle of fish at home.

“I don’t think that counts for anything. I’ve played against New Zealand before, and it is difficult to bat there if you haven’t played there before.

“Just knowing that one of their main players in Babar Azam is coming back. He didn’t play at all in New Zealand. It’s definitely going to be a different team to the one that went to New Zealand as to the one that is going to play here.

“I think that they are going to be a very competitive side when they can to play in their own conditions.

For the Proteas, it is their first tour to Pakistan in 14 years, and this means that the only member of the touring play to have played a Test over there is the head coach Mark Boucher.

De Kock added that they will take into the wisdom of their coaches ahead of the opening Test.

“In all honesty, we come here and we don’t really know the conditions that well. No one in the team has played here in Pakistan before, bar one or two of the coaches.

“We’ve had one of two chats as we go through the preparation. We do understand that spin and reverse swing plays a big part here on the subcontinent, and we are making sure that we’ve got all of our bases covered in our preparation.”

The 1st Test at the National Stadium in Karachi gets underway at 7 am next week Tuesday.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport