At a glance
Four years ago Trent Boult was the perfect 10 and the West Indies batsmen looked like they barely wanted to take part at the Basin Reserve.
New Zealand’s pace spearhead could well produce similar in today’s first test, on recent form, but you get the the feeling a lot more resistance will be forthcoming from Jason Holder’s touring side. Even if they remain winless in their last 10 tests in New Zealand stretching back to 1995.
As Boult teams up with Matt Henry - who held off a compelling challenge from fast bowler Lockie Ferguson to replace Tim Southee (paternity leave) - New Zealand start pronounced favourites for their first test in eight months. More so if Holder calls incorrectly and Boult, who snared 10-100 in the Black Caps’ innings victory in 2013, is marking out his run at 11am.
‘‘With the white ball in India he [Boult] was outstanding. It’s really exciting to see him swinging the ball again and bowling at good pace,’’ said Williamson.
But the captain knows it will take more than winning the toss and bowling well on a hard, well-grassed pitch that should excite the quicks on day one but also the batsmen at the weekend after some warm sun.
In four of the last five Wellington tests New Zealand were sent in to bat, and their best total was 268 against South Africa in March. That ended in an eight wicket defeat when the home batsmen froze against Keshav Maharaj’s left-arm spin, after some softening up from the pacemen.
The previous Wellington test, Bangladesh scored 595-8 declared on a damp surface that played a lot better than expected. New Zealand bowled poorly, too, but topped 500 themselves with the bat and fired up in the second innings to win by seven wickets.
Coming off one-day and First cricket test Basin Reserve, Wellington, 11am today (day one)
New Zealand $1.35, West Indies $6.50, draw $4.75
Tom Latham, Jeet Raval, Kane Williamson (captain), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, Tom Blundell, Mitchell Santner, Colin de Grandhomme, Matt Henry, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult.
Kraigg Brathwaite, Kieran Powell, Sunil Ambris, Shai Hope, Roston Chase, Jermaine Blackwood, Shane Dowrich, Jason Holder (captain), Devendra Bishoo, Kemar Roach, Shannon Gabriel.
Twenty20 snacks since their creditable and luckless 1-0 series defeat to South Africa in March, New Zealand aren’t bulletproof.
Openers Tom Latham and Jeet Raval are short of red ball runs although you get the feeling Latham has a big score in him. With Wellington wicketkeeper Tom Blundell getting a deserved debut for the injured BJ Watling the middle order offers West Indies an opportunity, too, especially if the tourists led by 150kmh Shannon Gabriel bowl first.
New Zealand played it safe by picking Henry, who has 22 test wickets at 48.5, over Ferguson who would have been the x-factor. Henry played the third test against South Africa, taking five wickets, and with his seam and bounce was seen as a perfect foil for Boult who could well go close to the 10 he needs to reach 200 test scalps.
‘‘He [Henry] has been playing well for a long time and hasn’t had the opportunities that he’s deserved. He’s a different bowler to Lockie and has been bowling with good pace, and does tend to move the ball well,’’ Williamson said.
West Indies were good in their Lincoln tour opener against New Zealand A and are coming off a 2-1 defeat in England, a 1-0 win in Zimbabwe then a camp in Brisbane. They’re battle hardened and seemingly a lot more unified than four years ago, with Australian coach Stuart Law adding some polish.
‘‘They’re gifted athletes and have a very good pace attack. We saw how disciplined their bowling was in England. They have a bit of x-factor and they move the ball so it’ll be a tough challenge,’’ Williamson said.
Gabriel, Holder and Kemar Roach are a strong pace trio and legspinner Devendra Bishoo will enjoy the Basin bounce, knowing how the Black Caps struggled against Maharaj’s spin.