Comforts of home suit Black Caps

More than most teams, the West Indies know how daunting a cricket tour of New Zealand can be.

It wasn’t always the case, like in 1995 when a team including greats Courtney Walsh, Curtly Ambrose, Brian Lara and Shivnarine Chanderpaul hammered their hosts by an innings and 322 runs at the Basin Reserve.

That one-sided affair 25 years ago was also the last time they won a test on New Zealand shores.

Kane Williamson will lead his Black Caps onto the Basin tomorrow riding a 14-test unbeaten streak at home, after their innings and 134-run victory over Jason Holder’s West Indies in the first test in Hamilton.

That’s a record run, beating two streaks of 13 from March 1987 to January 1992, and March 2012 to February 2016, and contributes to the argument for the current test lineup to be known as New Zealand’s best. It also matches India’s current unbeaten streak at home.

Since Williamson first led them in a test at home, in November 2016, the Black Caps have won 14 from 20 and tasted defeat just once, when South African left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj ran through them at the Basin in March 2017.

That 70 per cent win rate in home tests under Williamson stacks up with any host nation in the same period. India have won 16 from 21 (76.2 per cent) and Australia 16 from 22 (72.7 per cent) at home since November 2016.

Win/loss records for the world’s topfour test cricket nations, since November 2016:

World ranking: 1

Home: Played 22, won 16, lost 4, drawn 2 (win percentage 72.7)

Current unbeaten streak: 8 (7 wins, 1 draw)

Away: P17, W5, L9, D3 (win 29.4%)

World ranking: 2

Home: P20, W14, L1, D5 (win 70%)

Current unbeaten streak: 14 (10 wins, 4 draws)

Away: P8, W3, L5 (win 37.5%)

World ranking: 3

Home: P21, W16, L1, D4 (win 76.2%)

Current unbeaten streak: 14 (11 wins, 3 draws)

Away: P19, W9, L9, D1 (win 47.4%)

World ranking: 4

Home: P26, W16, L7, D3 (win 61.5%)

Current unbeaten streak: 5 (3 wins, 2 draws)

Away: P24, W7, L13, D4 (win 29.2%)

Australia and India remain the favourites to contest the inaugural World Test Championship final at Lord’s in June but if New Zealand keep winning they’re in with a chance of nudging out either Australia or India if there’s a one-sided series across the Tasman.

New Zealand pace bowler Neil Wagner said they fiercely protected their proud home record.

‘‘Every team around the world is tough in their home conditions. To go away and get a win is huge. It’s one that you treasure the most. At home you can create a tough environment to play, the same as what we experience overseas.’’