New Zealand and the West Indies are ready to face each other in the first match of the three-match test series at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, on Tuesday, December 2. This match is scheduled to begin at 3:30 AM IST (11:00 AM local time). Stay tuned with our NZ vs WI prediction, team preview, pitch report, player stats and winner prediction ahead of this big contest.
New Zealand have performed well against the West Indies, firstly winning the T20 series by 3-1 and then in the ODI series by 3-0. Now both teams are ready for the Test challenge. It looks like New Zealand will continue their winning streak. On the other hand, West Indies’ disappointing performance continues. So far on the New Zealand tour, west indies have the upper hand in a few games, but due to pressure and wrong strategy, they lost.
Head-to-Head Record: A total of the 49 matches played between these two sides so far. New Zealand has won 27, and the West Indies has won 13, while 19 matches ended in a draw. Moreover, New Zealand also has all the last five head-to-head clashes, while West Indies need to work on their skills and strategy.
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New Zealand Preview
The team is consistently performing well, and they also won the T20 and ODI series. The team has a lot of experienced and good batsmen in their test squad. With the return of Kane Williamson, New Zealand will look stronger in this format too.
Top order batter Devon Conway did well in the recent ODI series, and he could also do well in the Test series. He has scored 584 runs in the last nine matches at an average of over 34. Rachin Ravindra has also been in consistent form, scoring 705 runs in the last 10 matches at an average of over 44. New Zealand has good batters like Will Young, Kane Williamson, Tom Latham, and Tom Blundell, who can do well for them.
In bowling, Matt Henry has been an excellent performer for New Zealand across all formats. He also took 41 wickets in the last 7 Tests at an economy rate of 3.36, making him a threat to the batters. Mitchell Santner has also bowled well, taking 25 wickets in the last 6 games. Apart from them, Nathan Smith, Zak Foulkes, and Jacob Duffy can also do well for the host.
Tip
| Player | Tip | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Rachin Ravindra | Over 32.5 Runs | 1.85 |
Rachin Ravindra has scored 705 runs in his last 10 matches at an average above 44. His consistent form makes him a strong pick to deliver with the bat again.
West Indies Preview
West Indies have had a tough tour of New Zealand so far, losing the T20I series by 3-1 and failed to win a single match in the ODI series. Therefore, this Test series will be their last chance to prove themselves. The Caribbean team has good players who could surprise the host.
Alick Athanaze has been consistent, doing well for the team, scoring 320 runs in the last seven games at an average of over 22. Similarly, Justin Greaves also does well for the team. He has scored 361 runs in the last nine matches at an average of 24. Apart from them, John Campbell, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Shai Hope, and Roston Chase will also be responsible for managing the team in middle order.
Bowling has been a major challenge for the West Indies on their New Zealand tour, but Jayden Seales has bowled exceptionally well during this tour. He has also proven himself in test format by taking 36 wickets in the last nine games. Jomel Warrican has also been bowling well recently, taking 26 wickets in his last seven matches. Apart from them, the return of experienced Kemar Roach will definitely help the team’s bowling lineup.
Tip
| Player | Tip | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Jayden Seales | Over 2.5 Wickets | 1.85 |
Jayden Seales has taken 36 wickets in his last nine Tests and has been the standout bowler on this tour. He is likely to trouble New Zealand’s batting lineup with early breakthroughs.
NZ vs WI Probably Playing XI
New Zealand: Devon Conway, Will Young, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Tom Latham (c), Tom Blundell, Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy,
West Indies: John Campbell, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Alick Athanaze, Shai Hope, Roston Chase (c), Tevin Imlach, Justin Graves, Anderson Phillip, Jomel Warrican, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales
NZ vs WI Pitch Report
The pitch at Hagley Oval, Christchurch offers good bounce and pace, making it favourable for batsmen, especially in the first innings. This allows players to put together solid partnerships. Although there is some help for the bowlers in the second inning and creates a bit of a challenge for the batsmen. Spinners can also play an important role in the second inning if they get some help from the surface.
The weather at Hagley Park South is light rain, around 21°C, with 35% chance of rain, 55% humidity, and gentle 4 m/s winds.
Venue Test Statistics
| Stats | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 16 |
| Matches won batting first | 4 |
| Matches won bowling first | 10 |
| Average 1st innings Score | 288 |
| Average 2nd innings Score | 315 |
| Average 3rd innings Score | 271 |
| Average 4th innings Score | 173 |
| Highest total recorded | 659/6 (158.5 Ovs) – NZ vs PAK |
| Lowest total recorded | 95/10 (49.2 Ovs) – RSA vs NZ |
| Highest score chased | 286/8 (70 Ovs) – NZ vs SL |
| Lowest score defended | 227/10 (93.5 Ovs) – NZ vs RSA |
NZ vs WI Winner Prediction
New Zealand has recently performed well in all formats and is seen as a strong team in the Test format as well. In this series, they will take full advantage of their home conditions and will not give the West Indies a chance to make a comeback even once. So definitely they are favourites to win this match. Their players have also consistently performed brilliantly and helped the team achieve one-sided victories.
While the West Indies continues to face challenges. If they improve their batting and bowling and enter the match with a new strategy, they may do well. However, the last 5 head-to-head results are in favour of New Zealand, who did not allow West Indies to win a single match. To save its honour, the Caribbean team will now have to perform well and bounce back from the Test series.
Our Prediction: New Zealand
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Code: TOPBK
