Top 5 run-scorers in Tests between New Zealand and West Indies

Gayle Chanderpaul
Chris Gayle and Shivnarine Chanderpaul have relished the prospect of batting against New Zealand

New Zealand are set to return to action in Tests after a sabbatical spanning eight months. With West Indies visiting their shores for a two-match series, a fascinating and competitive affair is in the offing. The first Test is slated to begin on December 1 at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. Following the conclusion of the opening game, the attention will then shift to Seddon Park in Hamilton for the final match of the series.

Also Read: Top 5 spinners in New Zealand's Test history

Over the course of time, New Zealand and West Indies have enjoyed a riveting rivalry. Thus far, each team has won 13 Tests apiece even as 19 matches have ended in stalemate. Let us take a look at the five leading run-scorers in Test matches held between the two entertaining outfits.


#5 Glenn Turner - 855 runs

Glenn Turner
Turner's impeccable technique and steadfast perseverance turned him into a reliable batsman

One of New Zealand's all-time greats, Glenn Turner amassed nearly 3000 runs in his productive Test career. Upon perfecting his trade in the County circuit for Worcestershire, the opener relied on his impenetrable defence and unflappable resolve to enter the pantheon of eminent openers during the tough era of 1970s. Interestingly, the right-hander made his Test debut against West Indies at Auckland in 1969.

Turner played eight of his 41 Tests against West Indies. He scored 855 runs at an average of 65.76 with two centuries and three fifties. After contributing an invaluable first-innings 74 in Wellington to help New Zealand draw level in the 1969 series, the opening batsman topped the run charts in the 1972 series in the Caribbean. However, all five of those matches ended in stalemate.

#4 Ross Taylor - 873 runs

Ross Taylor
Taylor holds the key to New Zealand's batting fortunes in the upcoming series

With over 6000 runs to his name, Ross Taylor is New Zealand's third highest run-scorer in Tests. His current average of 47.10 is significantly better than those of Stephen Fleming and Brendon McCullum. Against West Indies, he has been the most prolific run-maker for the Blackcaps. The right-hander accumulated 873 runs from ten matches at an astounding average of 62.35 against the men from the Caribbean.

Taylor has scored three centuries and two fifties against West Indies. His splendid double ton at Dunedin set the tone for New Zealand's dominance in the 2013 series. While he led the Kiwis to an ignominious 0-2 defeat in the away series in 2012, the middle-order batsman redeemed himself by putting on a crucial partnership with Kane Williamson in Jamaica to propel his team to a famous match as well as series victory in the Caribbean in 2014. The upcoming 2-match series presents an ideal opportunity for him to move further up this particular list.

#3 Gordon Greenidge - 882 runs

Gordon Greenidge
Greenidge laid the foundation for West Indies' batting dominance in the 1970s and 1980s

One half of the most feared opening combination of all time, Gordon Greenidge was an integral part of the domineering West Indies team which stomped all over opposition teams with sheer impunity. At the peak of his powers, even supposedly world-class bowlers would shudder whenever he limped. Such was his transcendental ability to overcome physical pain. From 10 Tests against the Kiwis, he smashed 882 runs at an impressive average of 55.12 with two centuries and five fifties.

Extra Cover: Greenidge and Haynes – Gods who opened for the team of gods

Greenidge played one of his finest knocks against New Zealand. On a green-tinged surface at Auckland in 1987, he scored 213 out of West Indies' first-innings total of 418. The manner in which he handled the threat posed by Richard Hadlee bespoke volumes of his menace at the top of the order. The opener's consistent starts helped lay the platform for his team to surge to a 2-0 series triumph in the 1985 series in the Caribbean.

#2 Shivnarine Chanderpaul - 1232 runs

Shivnarine Chanderpaul
Chanderpaul played the sheet anchor role for the vast majority of his career

With a whopping 11867 runs, Shivnarine Chanderpaul lies second on the list of all-time leading run-scorers in West Indies' extensive and illustrious Test history. As many as 1232 of those runs came against the Kiwis. In fact, no cricketer has participated in more Test matches between New Zealand and West Indies than the left-hander's collection of 21 appearances. An average of 45.62 and ten fifty-plus scores allude to his admirable consistency.

Considering that he had to shoulder the burden of a declining batting lineup, Chanderpaul managed to taste the elixir of victory on only five occasions against New Zealand. His slew of fifty-plus knocks enabled West Indies to register identical 1-0 home and away series triumphs between 1995 and 1996. However, his team had to wait until 2012 to notch their next match as well as series victory against the Blackcaps.

#1 Chris Gayle - 1258 runs

Chris Gayle
Gayle has scored three centuries and seven fifties against New Zealand

Suffice to say, New Zealand have been among Chris Gayle's favourite opponents. From 12 Tests, he has marauded 1258 runs at a spectacular average of 66.21 with three centuries and seven fifties. Across all three formats, no batsman from West Indies has been able to match the opener's tally of 2417 international runs against the Blackcaps. His aggressive approach has acted as an adequate quelling force to the challenges of swing and seam posed by their fast bowlers.

During the opening Test of the 2012 series in Antigua, Gayle's explosive 206-ball 150 against a bowling attack featuring the likes of Chris Martin and Neil Wagner helped set the platform for West Indies' resounding nine-wicket victory. The hosts would go on to win the series by an emphatic 2-0 margin. The southpaw's belligerent 46-ball 80 also made short work of a tricky fourth-innings chase in the 2014 Port of Spain Test.

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Edited by Ram Kumar