WI respect NZ middle order

If the West Indies plan to target a potentially vulnerable New Zealand middle order, skipper Jason Holder is giving nothing away.

With experienced wicketkeeper-batsman BJ Watling out of the first test with a hip injury, starting at Wellington’s Basin Reserve on Friday, there will be pressure on others to deliver.

Henry Nicholls, Mitchell Santner and Colin de Grandhomme are all establishing themselves with the bat at test level, while Watling’s replacement Tom Blundell is set to debut.

Holder and the West Indies seam attack will be desperate for early wickets to make inroads into New Zealand’s middle order. He said they had full respect for the Black Caps in home conditions and couldn’t just focus on skipper Kane Williamson and 81-test veteran Ross Taylor.

‘‘Yes, there’s some inexperience, but we’re not going to underestimate them. I don’t think we’re in a position to underestimate the opposition. We’ll play it as we see it,’’ Holder said.

Williamson and Taylor will surely be top of the West Indies’ scouting report when it comes to batting. The West Indies are a confident side when things are going well, but can drop their heads in the field when they’re battling to make a breakthrough.

Traditionally slow to get going on overseas tours, the West Indies were pleased with their three-day draw against New Zealand A at Lincoln, near, Christchurch, which finished yesterday.

Key top order batsmen, opener Kraigg Brathwaite (88 retired) and highly-rated No 4 Shai Hope (110) both gained precious time in the middle against a decent New Zealand A attack, featuring Lockie Ferguson, Hamish Bennett, Logan van Beek and legspinner Todd Astle.

With the ball, the six pace bowlers the West Indies used were lively for the most part and created problems, dismissing New Zealand A for 237 in their first innings. Test openers Jeet Raval and Latham got through the second innings unscathed for New Zealand A, ending unbeaten on 32 and 28 respectively.