New Zealand in West Indies 2014

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New Zealand's tour of West Indies comprising of 3 tests and 2 T-20Is is getting into the act today as the first test gets underway today.
The West Indies are going in with a new captain in Denesh Ramdin after Daren Sammy was sacked as captain following which he retired from test cricket. For New Zealand, they are slowly getting their act together in test after Brendon McCullum's captaincy first year was largely disappointing.
As far as the squads go, West Indies have recalled fast bowler Jerome Taylor after 4 years since he played a test. Taylor can form a pretty decent opening attack with a fit again Kemar Roach, and Jason Holder is added to the squad in case they need more seam bowling cover. Suliman Ben is also recalled to the test squad, and Shane Shillingford is making a comeback after a suspect action suspension. Sunil Narine is banned for the series after he decided to prioritise the IPL over West Indies cricket as he missed a deadline for a West Indies training camp. Chris Gayle, who is playing his 100th test, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Marlon Samuels and Daren Bravo form the backborn of the batting unit. The other remaining positions have to be worked out between Kieran Powell, Kraigg Brathwaite and Kirk Edwards.
As for New Zealand, Peter Fulton and Hamish Rutherford who both struggled for consistency last season, face competition from Tom Latham for a top order position. But in Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor and skipper McCullum, they have a settled middle order to be backed up by wicketkeeper BJ Watling. Corey Anderson's injury before the first test is a setback and it is interesting to see who they would go in with at 6 for the first game. It could be Jimmy Neesham who scored a ton in his debut test, or it could be reserve wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi who has shown greater consistency with the bat in ODIs last year, or it could be Tom Latham down the order. The advantage with Neesham is that he can add to the depth of the bowling unit and is more of a like-for-like replacement for Anderson. . Daniel Vetori's test career seems to be finished as he yet again failed to regain fitness, and so Ish Sodhi will be leading the spin attack to be backed up by debutant Mark Craig. But Trent Boult and Tim Southee form a potent new ball attack to be backed by the ever persisting Neil Wagner.
It is not a high profile series, but it should be an interesting one with 2 closely matched sides fighting it out.

Though Jason Holder batted well in both innings, he was criminally underused with the ball and Shane Shillingford was overbowled. Don't think West Indies would need the 2 spinners. There are questions over Shillingford's action, and Benn is the form man. So I think they should stik with the latter as the only spinner in the attack, play Holder as the 3rd seamer along side Roach and Taylor, and bring back young Jermaine Blackwood at 6.
Though they lost a home series, there are positives for the West Indies, with the return of Jerome Taylor, Kemar Roach now has a worthy new ball partner, and in Holder, they have a potential all-rounder in the making. He's not the archetypal West Indies Fast Bowler, but he does come across as a skilled bowler and he can find that little bit extra bounce on most track with his tall frame. With the reemergence of Kraigg Brathwaite, Gayle now has a good partner at the top, and Darren Bravo seems to have put his personal troubles behind. Ramdin continues to improve with the bat though in my view he very much remains a number 7 batsman. With the added responsibilities of keeping and captaincy, that is where he should stay.

you can't much or anything throuhg performances against WI
WI just don't care for test cricket.

First T-20I today. New Zealand won the toss and will field.
Some known faces back for the West Indies in Kieran Pollard, Sunil Narine and Darren Sammy. Chris Gayle is not playing, as is Dwayne Bravo. Gayle was battling fitness concerns for some time and is been rested, and Bravo hasn't recovered from the injury that has kept him out of the game for the last couple of months.
As for the West Indies, Jimmy Neesham is likely to open, and leggy Ish Sodhi is making his T-20I debut. Trent Boult is also playing, despite his success at test level, Boult hasn't played many limited over games so far.

Simmons and Smith back in the hut already, and West Indies are struggling at 11-2 in the 4th over. Southee and Boult sharing the 2 wickets.

And the heavens have opened up........

WI 22-2 after 5.

After New Zealand won the first rain affected T-20I, West Indies are fighting in the 2nd game. A half-century from Andre Fletcher helped them to 165 in their 20 overs, and NZ are 66-2 in the 10th over in response.