White hot
Wagner skittles Windies
New Zealand’s grip on the first test is already solid; they can make it vicelike on the second day at the Basin Reserve today.
They will start at 85 for t wo, 49 runs in arrears of the substandard West Indies first innings. The pitch is still helpful to the seamers but today should be a chance for batsmen to prosper as it progresses.
The tourists were swept away by Neil Wagner’s hostility in a spell which saw the Windies lose eight for
30 in exactly 10 overs. That may come to be the match- defining period; the game is already well advanced.
Wagner’s seven for 39 has been bettered only by Richard Hadlee, twice ( nine for 52 in Brisbane in 1985, and seven for 23 against India, also at the Basin in 1976) and Chris Cairns’ seven for 27 against the West Indies in Hamilton in 1999.
The West Indies’ Australian coach Stuart Law was talking determinedly last night.
“I know we are a lot better than how we performed [ yesterday]. We tend to have a habit of not starting a series well but by no means are we dead and buried in the contest.
“It’s only day one and the weather looks good for the next four days, so anything’s possible in the second innings for our batters.”
Fancy picking an unlucky player yesterday? Look no further than debutant Sunil Ambris, fresh off 153 against New Zealand A.
First ball, he turned Wagner behind square, only to discover he’d trodden on his stumps.
He’s the first player ever to be dismissed first ball on test debut, and the sixth overall, in that manner.
“He shrugged his shoulders. Bad luck,” was Law’s reaction.
Some of his colleagues weren’t so unfortunate and owed their downfall at least in part to their own misadventures. They should be kicking themselves.
Trent Boult was tidy in taking two wickets but it was Wagner’s day.
The West Indies have been his most profitable test opponents in terms of wickets taken.
He’s up to 24 halfway through his seventh test against them and, with
137 wickets overall, has Danny Morrison’s 160 in his sights to become seventh best on New Zealand’s alltime list.
Wagner last night paid tribute to New Zealand’s fielding. Henry Nicholls took a sharp one above his head at short leg, while Jeet Raval’s low snare at third slip to remove Kieran Powell was the moment which opened up the West Indies innings.
Things got a bit sticky for New Zealand late in the day with Tom Latham, pulling to mid wicket and captain Kane Williamson cutting to gully, departing to lose a touch of momentum. Raval had his streaky moments and seemed to have trouble with his timing, but he’s still there, on 29 off 101 balls. Ross Taylor looked in charge.
Jason Holder bowled impressively, frequently beating the bat and finding good movement and bounce. You wonder why the skipper hasn’t got more wickets than 53 to his credit.
Today shapes as a big day for the West Indies. They need to stick to the task, not let heads drop and keep New Zealand as close as they can.
“Fifty would be great,” Law said with a grin on what would be a comfortable deficit to deal with. He’ll be lucky, but he has faith in his players.
He knows Taylor is a big wicket and while a lead of 100- 150 runs “sounds a lot, I believe in our players, and if they put their minds to it, that’s a pretty good batting wicket”.
It’s a long way off but just remember Taylor is 88 runs away from drawing level with his captain and Martin Crowe on 17 test hundreds.
If he’s still there at lunch today, don’t bet against him.