Written by Rick John Henry for @Hollywoodbets. Follow them both on Twitter and Facebook now!
West Indies vs New Zealand | Thursday 26 July | Bridgetown, Barbados | 16:00
A West Indian fightback that few would have envisaged given their heavy first Test loss and recent record has blown this series wide open. It’s one Test apiece for the hosts and visitors, setting up an important decider in Bridgetown, Barbados. Patience has proved to be a virtue for bowlers and batsmen alike on the slow West Indian wickets, although the pitch in Barbados should be a welcome reprieve for the toiling seamers. It usually has just a little bit of extra zip to encourage the bowlers but, as has become custom in the Caribbean, inspection on the opening morning will be paramount. Could this finally usher in a more prolonged period of West Indian Test resistance, or will it be another of their transitory resurgences?
To Win
West Indies 27/20
Draw 19/10
New Zealand 9/4
West Indies
The West Indies ended their two year win drought in Tests against top eight opposition with a consummate 10-wicket victory over the Black Caps in Trinidad. Bundling the visitors out for 221 after being put into the field, the hosts responded with 460 following centuries from Kraigg Brathwaite and Darren Bravo. It was the former’s maiden Test century and at the tender age of 21, he showed composure and resilience beyond his years. In fact, it was a textbook Test opener’s century, built on patience outside the off-stump and working ones and twos through the leg side. It was Bravo’s first century on home soil and the flamboyant middle-order batsman conjured up images of Brian Lara with his flair and gusto. The necessity of using two nightwatchmen meant debutant Jermaine Blackwood would score a fifty from number eight and provide rearguard runs with captain Denesh Ramdin. Another superb bowling performance from Kemar Roach, partnering Jerome Taylor with the new ball, restricted New Zealand to 331 in their second innings. It left a paltry chase of 93 for the hosts on the final day. Chris Gayle obliterated the target single-handedly, scoring 80 from 46 balls in an attempt to prove he is not a spent force.
The captain himself would spoil the West Indian party, as he slammed the side’s inability to remove BJ Watling and Mark Craig on the final morning as lazy. New Zealand added another 119 runs for their final two wickets, spoiling an innings victory for the hosts. And Ramdin is not wrong. The West Indies bowlers seemed bereft of ideas, allowing the game to continue at New Zealand’s luxurious pace. While the attack has impressed in spells (all of Taylor, Roach, Gabriel and Benn have sent down difficult spells this series) it is as a unit that they tend to unravel. At times, pressure is required from both ends, particularly during defensive periods, and it is here that the West Indies’ attack is vulnerable. Coach Ottis Gibson has called for a quicker pitch in Bridgetown to lend assistance though this has the capacity to backfire.
New Zealand
One man who will relish in a bit of extra pace is Tim Southee. It has been a somewhat meteoric rise through the ICC Test Rankings for the lanky Kiwi, who prior to second Test, in which he returned with only one wicket, lay fifth. However, with brilliance usually comes controversy and Southee was fined for his confrontation with Kirk Edwards. He will look to trouble a West Indian top order growing in confidence and with the vague promise of a seamer-friendly wicket, one of the Black Caps’ spinners may find themselves carrying the drinks. The most likely candidate would be Ish Sodhi, who for all his industry has proved expensive. In addition, Craig has not bowled badly and adds an extra lower-order dimension with the bat. If one of the spinners were to drop out of the match-day eleven, the obvious replacement is Neil Wagner. The left-armer has a tremendous work ethic and impressed on sluggish pitches in the warm-up fixtures.
While New Zealand have managed to find a competent opener in Tom Latham, who has three consecutive half-centuries at the top of the order, they now have the task of finding him a partner. Latham was originally earmarked to replace Peter Fulton, but Hamish Rutherford’s injury and poor form has changed that process. Whoever is picked to partner Latham can rest assured that it will be their last shot at Test redemption or face another domestic season in the Plunket Shield. Another alteration for the Black Caps to consider would be promoting BJ Watling to number six and dropping Jimmy Neesham to seven to shepherd the tail. Brendon McCullum has been effusive in his praise for Watling, who is fast becoming his captain’s favourite cricketer with long, trying innings in pressure situations following days crouching behind the stumps.
Venue
As stated, Bridgetown is thought to be a quicker wicket and may see the seamers come to the fore. However, the tracks in the West Indies are nothing like those of old and it will by no means be lightning fast. The job of the holding spinner will still prove important, especially later in the Test. The weather reports indicate chances of rain throughout the match and twenty wickets may prove hard to come by.
VERDICT: Draw 19/10
The series has ebbed and flowed in favour of both sides and it seems almost fitting that they share it. Both batting line-ups have resisted well in patches and have batsmen in form throughout the order. With the prospect of rain robbing time from the game and spinners being left on the backburner, this could well be contest that neither side have the brilliance to unlock. Back the draw at a fair price.
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