Worst of times for the West Indies
ANALYSIS: The touring West Indies are staking their claim for the mantle of ‘‘Worst Team To Play In New Zealand’’ – certainly the worst we’ve seen from the Windies.
The evidence has stacked up: two test hidings - by an innings and 67 runs, and 240 runs - and three ODI comprehensive ODI defeats.
To judge them against other nohopers, we need to take quality of opposition into account.
The current NZ side may not rate highly with a majority of keen cricket fans, yet it has four all-time Kiwi greats – Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Tim Southee and Trent Boult, plus a possible addition in Neil Wagner. BANGLADESH 2008 Another 2-0 test series drubbing for the visitors, who seemed better equipped but they didn’t make runs against Chris Martin, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Iain O’Brien and Vettori while Matthew Bell and Oram made tons. As in keeping with other whitewashes we’ve read above, the ODI series went 3-0 in NZ’s favour.
Notable players: Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal. Forgettable players: Aftab Ahmed, Sajedul Islam. BANGLADESH 2001 Much like Sri Lanka in 1983, the Bangers had only been playing tests for a year and it showed as they lost both tests by an innings. Their top team score in four bats was 205 against Shane Bond, Chris Cairns and Daniel Vettori. A 3-0 drubbing in the ODI series was no shock.
Notable players: Mohammad Ashraful, Habibul Bashar. Forget- table players: Manjurul Mohammad Sharif. WEST INDIES 1999 Had a great day one of the first test in Hamilton, batting and reaching 282-1 at stumps. All downhill at a rapid rate from there, losing that match by a remarkable nine wickets and the hangover carried to Wellington, where Mathew Sinclair made 214 on debut in a win by an innings and 105 runs. They took a 5-0 drubbing in the ODI series also.
Notable players: Brian Lara, Courtney Walsh. Forgettable players: Nehemiah Perry, Reon King. ZIMBABWE 1998 The test minnows appeared to have a reasonable 1st XI, with a couple of world-class players surrounded by a few handy tradesmen, but they lost by 10 wickets in the first test and by an innings and 13 runs in the second as they could neither make runs nor take wickets. The ODI series was lost 2-0.
Notable players: Andy Flower, Heath Streak.
Forgettable players: Huckle, Gavin Rennie. SRI LANKA 1983 A year after they played their first official test, Sri Lanka ventured to NZ and lost the test series 2-0, going down by an innings and 25 runs in Christchurch and six wickets in Wellington. Richard Hadlee, Martin Snedden, Lance Cairns and Ewen Chatfield dominated in seaming conditions foreign to the rookie tourists. They went no better in the ODI series, falling 3-0.
Notable players: Ranjan Madugalle, Rumesh Ratanayake
Forgettable players: Mithra Wettimuny, Sridharan Jeganathan. Islam, Adam