Thursday 26 June 2014

New Zealand bat, West Indies play five bowlers




BRIDGETOWN: West Indies rejigged their bowling again, this time opting for three quicks and two spinners. They will get first use of the pitch at Kensington Oval after New Zealand elected to bat.

Fast bowler Jason Holder was handed a Test debut, with the impressive Jermaine Blackwood making way. Blackwood had made 63 on debut at Port-of-Spain. Offspinner Shane Shillingford returned to the XI in place of fast bowler Shannon Gabriel. New Zealand had already broadcasted their one change on the eve of the match - Neil Wagner coming in for Ish Sodhi.

Barbados churned out a dry pitch for its 50th Test and with the series level at 1-1, both teams had a lot to play for. New Zealand's away record is a source of much scrutiny and their captain Brendon McCullum believed his side had the chance to do something special. Their last series win away from home against a top-eight nation came in the Caribbean in 2002.

A spirited rally in Port-of-Spain placed West Indies in a good position to secure their first series win against a top-eight opponent since their 2-0 drubbing of New Zealand in 2012.

Teams:
West Indies: Chris Gayle, Kraigg Brathwaite, Kirk Edwards, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Denesh Ramdin (captain & wk), Jason Holder, Kemar Roach, Jerome Taylor, Shane Shillingford, Sulieman Benn

New Zealand: Hamish Rutherford, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum (captain), Jimmy Neesham, BJ Watling (wk), Tim Southee, Mark Craig, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult

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