Gayle’s arrival too late
The heavy batting artillery like Chris Gayle will eventually reach New Zealand, but not soon enough to bolster a flimsy West Indies who vow to bounce back in the second test.
Gayle and one of world cricket’s rising batting stars Evin Lewis are expected to be named in the oneday international squad to open in the December 20 first ODI in Whangarei.
Before then, captain Jason Holder’s talented but erratic test top-six have to lift considerably to turn around their innings defeat in Wellington after totals of 134 and
319.
Power hitter Gayle, currently partnering Brendon McCullum for the Rangpur Riders in the Bangladesh Premier League, is next week bound for Dubai for a
Ten10 tournament before heading to New Zealand.
He hasn’t played a test in three years (he averages 42.18 from 103 tests) but mended bridges with the West Indies board and averaged
43.25 at a strike rate of 125 in the 4-0 ODI series defeat in England in September.
Still, Holder wasn’t bemoaning any absentees after New Zealand’s
innings-and-67-run win in Wellington. ‘‘No I’m happy with what [batsmen] we have now,’’ he said, as the sides move to Hamilton for Saturday’s second and final test.
In opener Kraigg Brathwaite and No 4 Shai Hope there are two quality batsmen, while Shimron Hetmyer looks a fine player and Roston Chase averages over 40. Brathwaite aside, all were guilty of selling their wickets cheaply.
Two-test series are unfulfilling and if you go 1-0 down it requires some risk and catch-up. Holder urged his side not to panic and has
England in August to cling to. They lost by an innings and 209 runs in the first test at Edgbaston then a week later won by five wickets at Headingley with Hope scoring dual centuries.
If legspinner Devendra Bishoo star of their 1-0 series win in Zimbabwe - is recalled, nine of that 11 will play in Hamilton.
‘‘There’s a lot of talent there. I won’t single anyone out but I’m really pleased with the progress of the side and I won’t let this test match dampen my spirits in terms of the way we’ve played the last few months. It’s important we put this behind us,’’ Holder said.
That England comeback wasn’t lost on New Zealand coach Mike Hesson.
‘‘History suggests they are [strong on the bounce back]. In England they got dealt a pretty severe blow in the first test and got written off and came back and beat England at Headingley. We’re certainly expecting them to sustain that pressure over a longer period of time than they did [in Wellington].’’
Still New Zealand will be at microscopic odds to win 2-0. Their ability to soak up West Indies pressure, when the tourists ground their way to 231-2 in their second innings, was the most pleasing for Hesson after his batsmen plundered 520-9 at the Basin Reserve.
Seddon Park should be another green, pace-friendly pitch with the prospect of swing for the returning Tim Southee.
The senior man is back from paternity leave and will partner his mate Trent Boult for the first time in a test since Bangladesh in Christchurch in January.
Southee returns to his favourite venue where he’s taken 34 wickets at 19.55 in six tests, his most recent 8-140 for the match against Pakistan a year ago.
Assuming Boult and man of the match Neil Wagner suffer no illeffects from bowling 39 and 36.4 overs respectively, Southee for Matt Henry looks the only change to a winning side.
‘‘Tim’s done very well at the ground in the past and he’s likely to fit back into the mix,’’ Hesson said.
Fast bowler Lockie Ferguson remains in the squad but will play Ford Trophy for Auckland on Wednesday and Sunday, if he’s not required for the test which seems likely.