Click here for live scoring of the first test between the Black Caps and West Indies.
KEY POINTS:
The question came late in Daniel Vettori's pre-first-test press conference yesterday.
Would he consider New Zealand to be favourites going into the two-test series against the West Indies, starting today?
Vettori paused a moment, his mind no doubt drifting back to Brisbane and Adelaide, then said wryly: "I'd
hate to say we're favourites with the way we've played over the last little while."
Quite so, but even allowing for events in Australia last month when New Zealand got thumped, the hosts should be favoured, especially playing in home conditions. As Vettori put it, favouritism "probably leans towards us".
But it was also clear yesterday that Vettori, while happy he's got a well-balanced team, would be even happier if Chris Martin was in Dunedin.
The fast-medium bowler with 146 test wickets and the acknowledged senior spearhead has been dropped. He took six wickets in the two tests in Australia - including the ball of the series to dismiss Matthew Hayden for a duck in Brisbane - but the selectors believing him a shade short of full fitness and pace.
Vettori didn't in so many words say he thought the decision wrong, but peering between the lines made for interesting conjecture.
"I think Chris is the best bowler in the country and as soon as we get him back it will make a huge difference," he said.
Pointing out that with Martin, Tim Southee and Kyle Mills unable to make the 12, New Zealand had good options from which to choose their fast-medium attack, Vettori said selection was always a subjective matter.
"Chris would probably admit he wasn't quite up to full speed, and coming back from injury and coming back on a tour of Australia is not the easiest thing," he said.
"But as soon as he's fit, and proves it and the selectors see it, I'm sure we'll see the Chris Martin who has bowled so well for the last few years in test cricket back in the side."
No pressure on Mark Gillespie then, the Wellington bowler who got Martin's spot for the two tests.
Gillespie has taken 11 wickets in his two tests, although they are slightly misleading in terms of return versus quality of performance. He is sharp, however, and will be expected to hurry the West Indies batsmen.
The New Zealand 12th man will be finalised this morning, once the selectors take a last look at the pitch, which is hard and well grassed. The odds are on offspinner Jeetan Patel missing out.
There is a question mark over Jacob Oram, who had a tight calf muscle yesterday, and Mills was flown south last night as cover.
The likelihood is that Oram will be fit, meaning New Zealand has the luxury of fielding a batting lineup where the probable No 9 batsman, James Franklin, has scored 69, 219 and 160 in State Championship games this season for Wellington.
Franklin, in what would be his first test after 18 months sidelined by knee injuries, will take the new ball, giving New Zealand a pleasing combination of fast-medium right arm outswing (Gillespie) and medium pace left arm inswing (Franklin).
In Vettori's mind the key to the series will be how New Zealand's bowlers cope with the West Indies' three senior batsmen, captain Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul.
"They have a longish tail but if those guys stick around we know how much damage they can do."
That said, Vettori is rightly concerned more with what New Zealand do than what their opponents might do to them.
He likes the idea of Daniel Flynn being promoted to No 3 - "we always thought he would go up into the top four; it's just come a little sooner than we would have liked" - and knows if the top order can put down a decent platform, the strength in depth should be a solid asset in the series.
How the teams stack up
Tests
35 - NZ won 9, West Indies won 10, Drawn 16.
In New Zealand: 22 tests - NZ won 8, West Indies won 7, Drawn 7.
Biggest wins
New Zealand: Innings and 105 runs, Basin Reserve 1999.
West Indies: Innings and 322 runs, Basin Reserve 1995.
Highest scores
New Zealand: Glenn Turner 259, Guyana 1972.
West Indies: Seymour Nurse 258, Lancaster Park 1969.
