Cricket: All uphill for the Black Caps

By RICHARD BOOCK

HAMILTON - There was an unmistakable sound of rustling pages echoing about the place yesterday as the latest reprint of cricket's almanack received its most thorough workout of the season. Centuries were scored, batting records eclipsed and needless to say, New Zealand were in the field.

It's just as well this isn't a timeless test or the West Indians might still be batting when the Australians show up for practice in March. By the time the first day's play had been completed the tourists had reached 282 for one, having made the most of a New Zealand attack notable only for its lack of balance.

The West Indies could probably not believe their luck when New Zealand opted for a two seamer-two spinner configuration - unlike many others at the ground who simply couldn't believe their ears - and by the time stumps were drawn Adrian Griffith had brought up his maiden test century, and Sherwin Campell had just departed for 170.

Evidently hoping to bowl last on a pitch they think will turn, New Zealand selected a side well equipped for the fourth innings, but in the process gave away such a complete initiative that not only the test match, but the entire National Bank Series must now be in jeopardy. The idea that the pitch would turn enough to justify picking only two specialist pacemen seemed a touch on the eccentric side yesterday morning, and especially so when Brian Lara called correctly, opted to bat first and effectively scuttled New Zealand's master-plan in the time it takes to say "heads".

Chris Cairns and Dion Nash bowled tidily enough but lacked the support of the third seamer, leaving spinners Daniel Vettori and Paul Wiseman at the mercy of two in-form batsmen - on a first-day test pitch that seemed to be getting flatter by the hour.

When the New Zealanders take a moment to examine Campbell's wagon-wheel, they should find an engineering oddity in that it only appears to have one spoke - through backward point, where the right-hander smeared a high proportion of his 23 boundaries. Like India's Rahul Dravid, the Barbados 29-year-old is making a habit of dining out on New Zealand bowling, having now scored a total of 595 runs in seven test innings at an average of 99.16, not to mention consecutive centuries in the previous match against Auckland.

Cautious at first as he and Griffith added 59 runs in the first session, Campbell was more aggressive after lunch, bringing up his 50 in 136 minutes and his third consecutive century for the West Indies in 224 minutes (177 balls) - and seemed to be poised to score his second double-century against New Zealand when he top-edged a hook off Nash.

He was particularly strong on the cut, not that the New Zealand bowlers seemed to notice, and appropriately went to three figures with a booming square slash off Craig McMillan, whose presence at the bowling crease indicated how dire the home side's problems had become.

Griffith, who has a reputation for occupying the crease, ground out his maiden century in 262 minutes, striking a six and 10 fours along the way, the last boundary off Cairns carrying him to the milestone deep in the final session. The first-wicket partnership of 276 is the highest West Indian opening stand against New Zealand.