With the conclusion of the Indian Premiere League, there might be a collective gloom among cricket lovers across the globe. However, the international cricketing calendar is such that it hardly gives you space to brood and the true cricket lovers would always be spoilt for choices.
This year, the international cricketing summer begins with New Zealand’s tour to the West Indies. The tour, which constitutes of three Tests and two T20 international matches, promises to be an engrossing affair and fans of the both nations would hopefully be satiated by the end of it. What is interesting is that both the sides have recently faced off against one another and know their strengths and weaknesses quite well. West Indies had toured New Zealand in late December-early January for a full-fledged series comprising of three Tests, five One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and two T20s. Though New Zealand won the hard fought Test series 1-0, West Indies came back to equal the ODI series 2-2 (with one match being abandoned due to rain). New Zealand won the T20 series comfortably; affecting a whitewash by winning 2-0. Nevertheless, what stood out from that series was that both the sides; irrespective of the conditions, are on equal measure when compared to each other. According to the ICC’s international Test rankings, New Zealand stands at the sixth position while the West Indies is struggling at the eighth number. It clearly indicates that there isn’t much to choose between the two sides and each would have to play out of their skins to oust the other. Now let us have a brief look at the players to watch out for both the teams in this series.
Players to watch out for New Zealand
Brendon McCullum: Fresh from an outstanding triple century (302) in his last Test match against India at Wellington, Brendon McCullum is truly in the form of his life. His 525 runs in the two match Test series against the Indians was a world record and it seems that the responsibility of leading the side is perhaps pushing the dashing right-hand batsman to play more maturely. Additionally, McCullum has also relieved himself from the wicket-keeping duties and can now solely concentrate on his batting. As was evident from his epic knock against India, McCullum is relishing the role of being the senior batsman and his current purple patch may cause West Indies dear.
Ross Taylor: Though, this senior New Zealand batsman hasn’t exactly been setting the stage on fire of late, it would be foolish to count Ross Taylor out. The attractive right-hand batsman has the ability to tear apart any opposition in the world and it is only a matter of time before he lets his bat do all the talking. In his last series against the West Indies, Taylor had scored heavily; with a double century and two centuries in three Tests and the West Indians would certainly be wary of him. He has played many memorable knocks in the past for his country and the slow and low pitches of West Indies are likely to suit his style of play. Ross Taylor forms a vital cog of New Zealand’s middle-order and the team would expect him to play some responsible knocks for them.
Kane Williamson: He is the rising star of New Zealand cricket and could well go on to be one of the great New Zealand batsmen ever if he stays true to his skills. The 23 year old did have a sedate series against India, but his sparkling 113 at Auckland in the first Test match of that series was a clear display of his class. Coming at number three, Williamson’s role in the batting order assumes prime significance and it remains to be seen how he fares in the slow and low tracks of West Indies. He has played the West Indies bowlers in their last tour to New Zealand and did fairly well. If the young batsman has got to show his class to the world, there would not be a better stage than in front of the cricket loving public of the Caribbean.
Tim Southee: The right-arm medium fast bowler is in good form currently and should enjoy bowling in the tracks of West Indies which always has something for the quicks.
Though the tracks of the Caribbean would not be the same seaming and bouncing ones found in New Zealand, it should still aid the 25 year old’s bowling style. His biggest challenge of course would be facing up front to Chris Gayle and if somehow Southee manages to come up trumps in the battle, his team would be at an advantageous position. Another fact that might help Southee is that the West Indies squad has a number of lefthanders and his outswingers might trouble them.
Trent Boult: He is another bowling star in the making for New Zealand and if handled properly could go on to make many records for his country. Having taken 82 wickets in just 22 matches, Boult has shown that he is a force to reckon with. The left-arm fast bowler has the ability to bowl at pace and can move the ball both ways. He is in good rhythm currently and should trouble the West Indians, known to be susceptible to swing and bounce. How well he performs with the old ball may well be the deciding factor for New Zealand’s outcome in the Test series.
Players to watch out for West Indies
Chris Gayle: The tall Jamaican would undoubtedly be the man to watch out for in the entire tour. Having torn apart bowlers all over the world, Chris Gayle would be at ease on the familiar pitches at home. Though Gayle’s Test form has been a little moderate off late, but you can expect him to be up to the challenge when the series commences. What would perhaps work as an added motivation for Gayle, would be the fact that he would be playing his 100th Test match at Jamaica; his home ground, which incidentally is the also the First Test match of the series.
Denesh Ramdin: The wicket-keeper batsman has been named as the West Indies captain for the Test series and for West Indies to do well, a lot would depend on his captaincy. Coming lower down the order, Ramdin’s batting too would be under scrutiny. He has played some vital knocks for his team from that position in the past and now, as the captain of the side, his role becomes even more pertinent. Ramdin has already led his side in three T20s and an ODI, but leading a Test team is an altogether different challenge.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul: The 39 year old is clearly one of the unsung heroes of West Indies cricket. There have been innumerable instances when Shivnarine Chanderpaul, through his gritty performances, has bailed his team out of trouble. His batting is unorthodox and not very attractive to look at, but what matters is that it is effective. With 29 Test centuries and 11219 runs in 153 Test matches at an average of 51.93, Chanderpaul clearly is one of the best batsmen in the world today. Though the world hasn’t exactly given Chanderpaul due credit for his feats, he is unlikely to brood over it. He loves being the ‘silent guardian’ of West Indian cricket and would surely be the one thorn that New Zealand would find hard to remove.
Tino Best: This robust fast-bowler has just 57 Test wickets in 25 Test matches. However, stats rarely do tell the full story. Tino Best is a bowler with heart and has the markings of the great West Indies bowlers from the yore. He has pace and can extract steep bounce from even the most docile tracks. Best has been handed the responsibility of leading the bowling attack and thus his role would be one of the most important ones for West Indies’ chances in the series. He might not get wickets in heaps, but can surely trouble the best as was seen in Sachin Tendulkar’s last Test match where he was regularly uncomfortable facing up to Best.
Sunil Narine: The rightarm off-break bowler from Trinidad is known more for his heroics in the shorter format of the game than in the Test matches. His subtle variations, dexterity and guile make it hard for batsmen to hit him in ODIs and T20s. However, Sunil Narine is yet to announce his arrival in the Test arena. To be fair to him, Narine has only played six Test matches as of yet and with some regular chances he is sure to add to his tally of 21 wickets. In his last Test innings, incidentally against New Zealand, he returned with figures of 6/91. With New Zealand historically known to struggle against spin, Sunil Narine could well be the ace of Ramdin’s pack.
The pitches
The pitches would obviously be the centre of attention as that is where all the action would be played. Let us briefly look at the three different stadiums where the Test matches would be played and the nature of the pitches there. The first Test would be played at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica. The pitch here was known to be lively with good pace and bounce, but over the years it has toned down and despite the grounds men’s best efforts it remains slow and low. Spinners can have a big role here and batsmen who can grit it out can play some long innings. The second Test match would be played at the picturesque Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad. The pitch here has true bounce which the fast bowlers should enjoy. However, the bounce also helps the batsmen who have been known to get big scores in this ground. The final Test match of the series is to be played at the Providence Stadium in Guyana. The stadium is relatively new; being established in 2006, and it is yet to be determined the true nature of the wicket here. From the records, it seems that the pitch here is quite favorable to bowlers, and batsmen would have a tough time setting their pace and playing a long innings.
The T20 series
Apart from the Test matches there would also be some light entertainment for the fans in the form of two T20s to be played between the two sides. With the likes of Corey Anderson, Jimmy Neesham and Brendon McCullum in New Zealand’s T20 side and Chris Gayle, Sunil Narine and Dwayne Smith in the West Indies line up, a crackling and exciting series is to be awaited.
The overall scenario
Overall, one should expect a hard fought and a grueling and engrossing series between the West Indies and New Zealand. Both the sides are well balanced and seem to be on equal stead when pitted against each other. To stake its claim as a serious Test playing nation, this tour is New Zealand cricket’s best chance. On the other hand, West Indies would like to rise up the charts from the bottom of the Test rankings and doing well on this tour might be their first step towards it. Exciting times for cricket lovers thus lie ahead. Fact Box 1: T20 World Cup winning captain Darren Sammy has announced his retirement from Test cricket after losing the captaincy to Denesh Ramdin. Sammy said that ‘he was no longer needed in Tests by the selectors’. Sammy would continue to lead West Indies in ODIs and T20s. Fact Box 2: Former New Zealand batsman Craig McMillan has been signed up as the batting coach of New Zealand for this tour. “It’s a career path I’m looking forward to pursuing,” McMillan, who played 55 Tests and 197 one-day internationals for New Zealand, was quoted as saying to the Dominion Post on his appointment.
RESOURCE:-http://www.crictoday.com/magazine/top-story/12260-nz-tour-of-wi-a-battle-of-equals.html
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