TOP STORIES
NZ vs WI, 1st Test: All you need to know, head-to-head, playing XI
New Zealand are set to host West Indies in the first Test of the three-match series, scheduled to begin on December 2 at Hagley Oval. After being comprehensively outplayed in both the ODI and T20I series, the visitors will be hoping to stage their comeback in the red-ball format. West Indies, who are riding a wave of misfortunes, will somehow hope to transform their fortunes.
For New Zealand, this Test series has greater significance as it marks their first steps in the 2025–27 ICC World Test Championship cycle, making them the last team to begin their campaign. Kane Williamson, who missed the tests against Zimbabwe, returns to the red-ball format.
New Zealand's most recent outing in whites came earlier this year in Zimbabwe, where they cruised to a comfortable 2–0 win. But that series bore no relevance to the WTC standings; this one does. In contrast, West Indies arrive with five straight defeats, sitting at the bottom of the WTC table. Their recent defeat was against India, where they were handed a 0-2 whitewash. For this tour, the return of Kemar Roach adds experience to a seam group missing Shamar Joseph and Alzarri Joseph.
Head-to-head
Matches - 49
NZ won - 17
WI won - 13
Drawn - 19
NZ Possible XI: Tom Latham (c), Devon Conway/ Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (WK), Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes
WI Possible XI: John Campbell, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Alick Athanaze, Shai Hope, Roston Chase (c), Tevin Imlach (WK), Justin Greaves, Anderson Phillip, Johan Layne, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales
Tags
More News
"We were loud and clear": Ex-Pakistan batter slams team's disappointing campaign at T20 World Cup
Former Pakistan skipper Mohammad Yousuf has strongly criticized the Salman Agha-led side after their premature exit from the T20 World Cup 2026, questioning both leadership and overall performance. Pakistan’s campaign came to an end on Saturday despite a narrow five-run victory over Sri Lanka in their final Super Eight Group 2 match in Pallekele.
Pakistan finished level on three poi...
"I have 11 dangerous players": Daren Sammy ahead of India vs West Indies clash
As the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup reaches a boiling point, there is huge anticipation ahead of the high-stakes showdown between India and the West Indies in Kolkata on Sunday. For both teams, it is a must-win game to book a spot in the semi-finals. And according to West Indies head coach Daren Sammy, the task at han...
Schedule confirmed for Australia women's tour of West Indies
Australia’s long-awaited return to the Caribbean will feature an all-white-ball assignment, with the anticipated historic Test match no longer part of the schedule. Cricket West Indies has unveiled the schedule for the tour, which begins on March 19. Instead of a multi-format series, the campaign will now have six limited-overs games as both teams begin prepara...
Sanath Jayasuriya set to leave role as Sri Lanka head coach
Sri Lanka's head coach, Sanath Jayasuriya, has indicated that he will step down from his role following the team's early exit from the ongoing T20 World Cup. His announcement came in the aftermath of a heartbreaking five-run defeat to Pakistan that sealed Sri Lanka’s elimination from the tournament. Speaking after the loss in Pallekele on Saturday, Jayasuriya revealed that he h...
It's do-or-die in Kolkata as India and West Indies fight for a semi-final berth
There are matches that shape tournaments, and then there are matches that define them, and Sunday’s clash between India and West Indies at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata falls squarely into the latter category. The face-off has been labelled a “virtual quarterfinal,” because one semifinal spot remains in Group 1. Both India and West Indies are in contention with n...
Android App
iOS App
YouTube
Facebook
Instagram