Window of opportunity
Grassy pitch should excite Black Caps pace attack
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 produce similar in today’s first test in Wellington, 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 today.
‘‘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, wellgrassed 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 on a damp surface that played better than expected. New Zealand bowled poorly, too, but topped 500 with the bat and fired up in the second innings to win by seven wickets.
Coming off one-day and Twenty20 snacks since their creditable and luckless 1-0 series defeat to South Africa in March, New Zealand aren’t bulletproof.
New Zealand view
‘‘It’ll be a tough challenge.’’
Kane Williamson, captain
West Indies view
‘‘It’s a new-look side with youthful exuberance.’’
Jason Holder, captain
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 they 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.
Holder said their comeback win over England at Headingley, where Shai Hope scored a century in each innings, was a confidence booster but yesterday’s news.
‘‘We only have Shannon and Kieran Powell from that [2013] tour. It’s a new-look side with youthful exuberance and guys who are really eager and willing to play for West Indies. Not saying that that group wasn’t, but we’re heading in the right direction,’’ Holder said.