By Alex Powell at the Basin Reserve
The Black Caps have taken bragging rights from the first day of the second test against the West Indies at the Basin Reserve, but that has been overshadowed by a shoulder injury to fast bowler Blair Tickner.
Playing his first test since March 2023, Tickner had been the standout on his return to the red-ball side, taking four of the first seven West Indian wickets to fall.
But before drinks in the day’s final session, Tickner landed awkwardly when fielding a ball at fine leg, and left the field on a stretcher with an apparent shoulder injury, after being seen using Penthrox, also known as the “green whistle”.
The Black Caps will wait on a medical assessment to determine Tickner’s condition, albeit with his further involvement now in doubt.
Should Tickner be out of action for the rest of this test match, the Black Caps would again be down in their bowling ranks, after Matt Henry and Nathan Smith were ruled out during the series-opening draw in Christchurch.
Injury aside, though, the Black Caps reached stumps as the happier of the two sides. Captain Tom Latham’s decision to bowl first was rewarded with all 10 wickets, as New Zealand made five changes to the XI from Hagley Oval.
Tickner (4-32) led the way, taking career-best figures to skittle the West Indies for 205, supported admirably by debutant Michael Rae (3-67). In fact, the Black Caps’ bowling unit is so inexperienced that while Glenn Phillips (1-19) has taken the most career wickets leading into the test, Kane Williamson is second with 30.
Wicketkeeper Mitchell Hay also gave a good account of himself on debut, taking one catch and looking tidy between the stumps, with the only blemish being two byes – albeit balls that went over his head.
Shai Hope was the best on offer for the visitors but could only manage 48 before he fell to Tickner, as the West Indies slipped from 153-3 to 205 all out.
In reply, the Black Caps reached 24-0 at stumps, behind by 181 runs and eyeing an insurmountable first-innings total as the wicket browns off and becomes better to bat on.
Latham (seven not out) and Devon Conway (16 not out) will resume on day two, as the Black Caps look to bat the West Indies out of the game.
As Latham won the toss and bowled – the 18th successive captain to do so at the Basin Reserve – the West Indies’ openers played positively, adding 50 in 81 balls, that score raised when Rae was pulled for six over square leg by Brandon King.
It wasn’t until after drinks that Tickner broke through, removing King for 33 and then Kavem Hodge for a duck – both LBW – as 66-0 became 66-2. Tickner made exceptional use of the swinging ball early on, before going short later in the innings with equal success.
After struggling in the morning, Rae joined the party after lunch. John Campbell had ridden his luck in the morning, nearly being run out for 21 and dropped by Latham on 23. However, that luck ran out when he was on 44, as Rae drew Campbell’s edge through to Daryl Mitchell at slip to make it 93-3.
As was the case in Christchurch, Hope proved to be a thorn in New Zealand’s side. Fresh from scores of 56 and 140, he added 50 with captain Roston Chase and effortlessly marched to 48.
But with Tickner’s return, the West Indies’ middle order fell apart. A well-directed bouncer left Hope in no-man’s land, and he could only glove to Williamson behind the wicket, before Tickner took his fourth when an inside edge from Chase uprooted leg-stump at 176-5.
At the other end, Rae had his second wicket – to give Hay his first catch – when first-test hero Justin Greaves edged behind for 13, leaving the West Indies out of specialist batters and relying on the lower order for any kind of first innings total.
In Christchurch, Kemar Roach batted for 290 balls across both innings without being dismissed to save the first test. In Wellington, he lasted just three before he was pinned on the pad by Rae as the tourists slipped to 185-7.
But after Tickner had shone with the ball all day, disaster struck before drinks when he was forced from the field. With the side down a bowler once more, Phillips stepped up to remove Imlach (16) by spinning a ball past the outside edge to clip off-stump at 199-8.
Anderson Phillip (5 off 50) was run out at the non-striker’s end by uncapped sub-fielder Kristian Clarke while attempting to steal a single. And when Jacob Duffy (1-33) had Ojay Shields (0) caught at third slip by Williamson, the bowlers’ job was done.
With 30 minutes to survive before the close, Latham and Conway both had their moments. The captain nearly fell to a sharp caught-and-bowled attempt by Jayden Seales, and his opening partner survived an LBW shout from the same bowler.
Latham offered one final chance in the day’s last over, as a leading edge off Shields landed between third slip and gully. However, both of the Black Caps openers will return on day two, as batting conditions can only improve.
West Indies 205 (Hope 48; Tickner 4-32, Rae 3-67)
New Zealand 24-0 (Conway 16 not out, Latham 7 not out)
New Zealand trail by 181 runs
Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.