The Cricketer provides the who, what, where, when, why, which channel and how wet it will be as attention turns to the red ball
After three T20s, New Zealand and West Indies complete the multi-format tour with two Tests. The matches form part of the ongoing World Test Championship.
FIRST TEST: Seddon Park, Hamilton (Wednesday, December 2 - December 6, 10pm GMT, 11am local time)
SECOND TEST: Basin Reserve, Wellington (Thursday, December 10 - December 14, 10pm GMT, 11am local time)
New Zealand return to Test action for the first time in 10 months against West Indies.
Not since they crushed India in February and March have they been in red-ball action due to the pandemic.
Virat Kohli's side were left battered and bruised after both Tests, only getting past 200 once in four attempts after being overwhelmed by debutant Kyle Jamieson.
That 2-0 success at home followed being overwhelmed by Australia either side of Christmas and New Year.
They will certainly be hoping for better than that 3-0 whitewash during which the hosts won the toss, put on 400+ first innings scores and set massive scores to win in the fourth innings in all three Tests.
Kane Williamson will be eager to return his side to their dogged displays from the previous two years which included six series wins in seven, the other being a draw in Sri Lanka.
They produced some dogged cricket to beat England twice during that run, while also producing heroics in the United Arab Emirates where Pakistan lost for the first time since permanently relocating.
Following changes to the World Test Championship points system to determine the top two, New Zealand are still in the hunt for the top two. Followed by the Windies they face Pakistan; four winnable home Tests while India are playing Australia and England.
Kyle Jamieson will hope to repeat his heroics from the India series
They are further boosted for this series by the return of Williamson and Trent Boult, who chose to skip the T20s following the Indian Premier League.
With little crossover between the T20 and Test groups, there is arguably little significance in the Black Caps securing a 2-0 series win. Mitchell Santner had a good hit and collected two wickets, while Tim Southee and Jamieson dusted off the cobwebs.
New Zealand squad: Kane Williamson (c), Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Nel Wagner, BJ Watling (wk), Will Young, Mitchell Santner
Not since 1995 have West Indies won a Test in New Zealand. Twenty-five years ago it was enough to secure a 1-0 win over the Kiwis. A team including Brian Lara, Sir Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh claimed a famous success in Wellington, but it will take something special to recreate those heroics.
Jason Holder has neither the talent nor the depth to call upon for these two Tests. Granted, there is lots of ability but too often major lapses occur and victories are turned into defeats.
They return for the first time since the Tests in England, where they pushed the hosts hard before going down 2-1, with a bolstered squad. Shimron Hetmyer, Darren Bravo and Keemo Paul are back after skipping the tour due to Covid concerns.
Furthermore, their first-choice seamer battery is fit and available. Kemar Roach, Shannon Gabriel and Alzarri Joseph were poorly managed in England but across just two Tests they could do real damage on the green tops of New Zealand.
The batting provides hope too. Kraigg Brathwaite and Jermaine Blackwood are more reliable these days, with Bravo and Hetmyer adding a sprinkle of class and bravado. If Holder can return to his best with the bat suddenly there is a formidable line-up to contend with.
West Indies squad: Jason Holder (c), Jermaine Blackwood, Kraigg Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks, John Campbell, Roston Chase, Rahkeem Cornwall, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Shimron Hetmyer, Chemar Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Keemo Paul, Kemar Roach.
For the first Test rain is predicted for the first couple of days in Hamilton which could lead to a succession of delays.
The second Test sees overcast skies across Wellington, which should lead to a full match.
Shimron Hetmyer returns for West Indies
Spark Sport are in the midst of a six-year deal to show the New Zealand team and will show the series at home. The radio rights have meanwhile been picked up by Magic Talk Radio.
In the Caribbean, like with the T20 matches, Flow Sports will show live coverage of the Tests.
Footage of the series can be accessed via the following channels in countries around the world:
Australia - Fox Sport/Kayo Sports
Canada - ATN Cricket Plus
India - Fan Code
South Africa - SuperSport
USA - ESPN Plus
No details for the Tests to be shown in the UK have been revealed. New Zealand Cricket streamed the T20s through their YouTube Channel but similar arrangements have not yet been announced for the Tests.
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Posted by Roy Funnell on 04/12/2020 at 21:44
What TV channel number is' Spark Sport' ??
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