Telling stats: Black Caps v West Indies

Brendon McCullum has gone 46 innings since his sixth and last test century, which was 225 against India. Photo / Getty Images

What do statistics and history say about the Black Caps and West Indies ahead of the first test in Dunedin? Cameron McMillan looks closely at the numbers.

Bring an umbrella

This will be the sixth test at University Oval and the sixth time the ground hosts the opening test of a series. The last four test matches at the ground have all been affected by rain at some point. The last test against England

in March this year

saw the first day rained out while draws against the West Indies (2008) and

South Africa (2012)

both had the final day washed out. According to the Met Service rain is forecast for day five once again.

New Zealand have never lost at the ground having beaten Bangladesh (2008) and Pakistan (2009) along with rain-affected draws against the West Indies, South Africa and England.

To be fair on Dunedin, going back to the start of 2011 New Zealand have played nine tests at home and only three weren't affected by rain at some point.

History says
The West Indies have previously played once before at the University Oval. As mentioned above, the match ended in a draw after days two and five were rained off. The test was evenly poised after New Zealand made 365 in their first innings with Daniel Flynn (95) and Jesse Ryder (89) both falling short of tons. In reply the West Indies were bowled out for 340 with number eight Jerome Taylor making his first and only test ton. Daniel Vettori took 6-56 - the best figures at the ground.

Ross Taylor and Brendon McCullum are the only remaining players in that New Zealand side who are in the squad for this upcoming test.

West Indies also played twice at Carisbrook (in 1956 and 1980). The tourists won the 1956 test by an innings and 71 runs after dismissing New Zealand for 74 (in 62.2 overs!) in their first innings. In reply West Indies made 353 with Everton Weekes scoring 123. New Zealand were then bowled out for 208 in their second innings.

The 1980 test is New Zealand's closest ever test win - by one wicket. Chasing 104 to win, facing the pace trio of Michael Holding, Colin Croft and Joel Garner, New Zealand lost their ninth wicket of Lance Cairns with still four needed to win. Number 10 Gary Troup and number 11 Stephen Boock guided New Zealand to victory courtesy of a triumphant leg bye.

Form guide

In form:
Kane Williamson has the most runs of any New Zealand batsman in 2013 with 588 in 16 innings at an average of 41.49. The next best is Peter Fulton who has scored 529 runs including back-to-back tons in his last test in New Zealand. Hamish Rutherford (171) has the highest individual score at University Oval against England earlier this year.

Spinner Shane Shillingford has taken an impressive 30 wickets in four tests this year with a five-wicket bag in five straight innings. Denesh Ramdin has the best average for West Indies in 2013 with 218 runs at 54.50 in six innings.

Out of form:
Brendon McCullum has gone 46 innings since his sixth and last test century, which was 225 against India at Hyderabad in November 2010. Since then he has reached the 80s twice (83 against Zimbabwe at Napier 2012 and 84 against West Indies at North Sound, also 2012). His highest score in his last seven innings is 22 - but he made four half centuries in his seven knocks before that.

This will be the West Indies' fifth test of 2013 and New Zealand's 10th. In the West Indies' four previous tests this year only two centuries have been scored - Shivnarine Chanderpaul (108) and Chris Gayle (101) both against Bangladesh.

- nzherald.co.nz