New Zealand vs West Indies 2017: 5 reasons why the Windies can beat the Kiwis in the Test series

The West Indies team have been on tours since 2015. In fact, they’ve played only two Test series at home in the last three years. Also, they haven’t been able to win a Test series against the top seven teams since 2012. However, they defied all odds to beat England in a Test at Headingley earlier this year.

Thus, this two-match Test series in New Zealand provides them with the perfect opportunity to set the record straight and show the world what they are capable of.

Here, we look at five reasons why this Windies team can beat New Zealand in their own den.

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#5 New ball pair of Roach and Gabriel

Kemar Roach, ever since his comeback, has been on a rampage. He’s bowling fast, moving the ball in the air and off the pitch as well. The numbers though do not give an indication of how well he’s bowled since his comeback in August this year.

He has complemented Shannon Gabriel brilliantly. Gabriel himself has been in very good form. He is West Indies’ leading wicket-taker in Tests this year (27 wickets at an average of 26.52). Both bowlers can trouble the Kiwi batsmen with their raw pace. They can move the ball around as well.

Roach and Gabriel looked in very good rhythm in the warm-up game as well and are a big threat to the Kiwi top order.

#4 Confidence

The West Indies side will look to build on the success they managed in the last year

Confidence is one of the major factors for any team or player to do well. And West Indies look a confident side. In the four Test series they’ve played, they’ve managed to win at least one Test in each of them, which is a positive sign.

In the last one year, they’ve beaten Pakistan twice (once in the UAE and once at home), triumphed against England at Headingley and then dominated the series in Zimbabwe.

Moreover, they had a very good warm-up game against New Zealand ‘A’. Most of their key players got into their groove early. Thus, with confidence on their side, we can expect a tough fight from the West Indies.

#3 New Zealand’s fragile lower middle order

Latham and Williamson will hold the key for New Zealand

The New Zealand side have a solid and reliable top 4. Tom Latham, Jeet Raval, Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor have been in very good form at the top.

However, the lower middle order looks a little fragile especially with the absence of wicketkeeper BJ Watling. Henry Nicholls, debutant wicketkeeper Tom Blundell, Colin de Grandhomme and Mitchell Santner will slot in between No. 5 and No. 8.

Nicholls, de Grandhomme and Santner played in the limited-overs series in India, and didn’t look in great touch. Thus, if the Windies bowlers can get through the top order, they will put New Zealand’s middle order under a lot of pressure.

#2 New Zealand’s rustiness

New Zealand have played only five Tests this year

The Blackcaps return to red ball cricket after a long eight-month hiatus. In fact, since March this year, they’ve played only nine international games (six ODIs – three in the Champions Trophy, three in India and three T20Is – all in India).

Also, only seven players in the 14-member squad played in the limited-overs series in India. Hence, the players will be a little rusty and may take some time to get back into their groove. Moreover, for the other players, switching formats might be a concern.

West Indies can capitalize on this and possibly cause an upset.

#1 The form of Shai Hope

Shai Hope was brilliant in the last few Test matches

When Shai Hope made his Test debut in 2015 against England, it was on the back of a mountain of runs in the domestic circuit. However, he couldn’t replicate his domestic success at the international level and his international career got off to a miserable start.

In 11 Tests, he scored 391 runs at a miserable average of 18.62. But then came the Test match at Headingley and the tides turned. He became the first batsman to register twin centuries at Headingley. He scored 147 and 118 (not out) to help West Indies register a memorable win.

And he hasn’t looked back since. He has become the pillar of the Windies batting line-up. Even on turning tracks in Zimbabwe, when most batsmen failed, he put his hand up and bailed his side out of trouble. In his last seven innings, Hope has scored 530 runs. Hence, an in-form Shai Hope is a major threat to the New Zealand side and if he gets going, he can take the Windies to decent totals.