The Black Caps are itching to win the toss in the second cricket Test in Dubai to give them the chance to try to put a dent in Pakistan’s dominance.

New Zealand trail 1-0 in the three-match series after a 248-run defeat in Abu Dhabi, a result that followed their opponents’ 2-0 series sweep over Australia in the United Arab Emirates.

In all three Tests, Pakistan compiled formidable first-innings totals after skipper Misbah-ul-Haq had won the toss and chosen to bat.

New Zealand opener Tom Latham believes the flip of the coin on Monday again will be influential.

“In the series against Australia and our first Test, they’ve been batting first and haven’t been put under pressure,” he said.

“They’ve put big totals on the board and their spinners have been able to bowl to that. If we win the toss and put a big score on the board, then hopefully we can turn things around.”

The 22-year-old left-hander’s maiden Test century was one of the few bright spots for New Zealand in game one, when Pakistan’s spinners again were among the wickets.

Left-armer Zulfiqar Babar took five and leggie Yasir Shah four, to add to their respective tallies of 14 and 12 against Australia.

The Dubai pitch is expected to offer assistance for the slow bowlers, but Latham is confident Babar and Shah can be countered.

He said the variation they offered as a duo did present a challenge.

But he also pointed to the way tail-enders Ish Sodhi, with his top Test score of 63, and Trent Boult, who finished unbeaten on 19, put on a 54-run partnership on the fifth morning.

“I don’t think they’re unplayable,” Latham said.

“If we can get ourselves in those situations and keep them out for longer, then hopefully we can put a big total on the board.”

Injured opener Ahmed Shehzad’s absence is the only change to the Pakistan squad for the remainder of the series.

Shehzad is recovering from a minor skull fracture after being struck on the side of the head by a Corey Anderson bouncer that ended his career-best innings of 176 with a hit-wicket dismissal.