Last Updated on 5 years by Charbel Coorey

NZ vs IND 1st Test Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | NZ vs IND 1st Test Dream11 | NZ vs IND 1st Test Wellington Pitch Report | New Zealand vs India 1st Test Preview Dream11 | NZ vs IND 1st Test Dream11 Prediction Today

There is a World T20 coming up later this year, so the five-match T20I series held significance. There was the small matter of a World Cup Semi Final that caused heartbreak for billions around the world, so the ODI series had a bit of rivalry feel.

However, the Test leg of India’s tour of New Zealand is arguably the main event. India, the top ranked side in Test cricket, face their biggest challenge in their perfect World Test Championship campaign so far. They face a New Zealand side coming off a forgettable series in Australia, where they lost all three Tests by a significant margin.

But, the Black Caps are often rock solid in home Tests. Their batting, so heavily under the microscope in Australia, will come under fire once again against a fine Indian bowling attack. India, who are also so strong at home, will be up against a determined New Zealand attack.

So, this one has the makings for a fine Test. Who will come out on top?

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Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

• Ross Taylor is set to become the first player in history to reach 100 matches in all three formats. He will play his 100th Test at one of his favourite grounds: Basin Reserve.
• Taylor has the most runs of any player on this ground: 1,226, avg. 64.52. Also, Taylor scored 149 runs, including a century, during India’s last visit to Basin Reserve.
• Kane Williamson also enjoys the Basin Reserve: 1,048 runs, avg. 65.50.
• Tom Latham (651 runs, avg. 54.25, including 264* vs Sri Lanka) and Henry Nicholls (473 runs, avg. 59.12) also have strong records at this ground.
• Mayank Agarwal had a poor ODI series. However, his 81 in the second innings of the tour game would have done him the world of good.
• Cheteshwar Pujara will be crucial, too. Pujara averages 54 against New Zealand in seven Tests. However, he will be keen to turn around his average of 15 in two Tests in New Zealand.
• But, India’s key man is arguably Virat Kohli. One of the world’s premier batsmen averages 66.81 in seven Tests vs NZ (735 runs). Also, Kohli scored 105* and 38 in his last visit to the Basin Reserve.
• One of the shining lights of NZ’s tough tour of Australia was Tom Blundell. He held his own in his new role as opener, scoring a fine century at the MCG.
• Ajinkya Rahane is one of India’s finest overseas players. He averages 46.76 in 36 away Tests, including 54 in NZ (two Tests).
• BJ Watling: Mr Reliable. He scored 124 for NZ vs India at Basin Reserve in 2014.
• Could Colin de Grandhomme be the star all-rounder of this match? He has a higher batting average (37.20) than bowling (31.40) after 22 Tests.
• It remains to be seen if India play Ravindra Jadeja or Ravichandran Ashwin in this Test. Ashwin is yet to play a Test in New Zealand and Jadeja averages 85.66 with the ball in two Tests.
• The battle between Trent Boult and Jasprit Bumrah promises to be a beauty.
• Bumrah has played all of his 12 Tests away from home, averaging 19.24 with the ball, including 17.00 in four Tests in somewhat similar conditions in Australia. Boult will be keen to improve on 25 wickets vs India at 34.00, including four wickets at 36.25 against them on this ground.
• However, Mohammed Shami shouldn’t be forgotten. He took 3/17 in the tour game and is one of the finest red-ball bowlers going around.
• Can Tim Southee improve on his poor record at Basin Reserve? He has 35 wickets in 12 Tests at this ground at 40.68.
• Neil Wagner is out of the Test, as he is awaiting the birth of his child. Either or both of Matt Henry or Kyle Jamieson (star in the ODIs) could play.
• Ishant Sharma looks to have overcome his injury and is set to play the first Test. Since January 2018, Sharma has taken 66 wickets at 19.44. Also, Ishant took 6/51 on this ground in 2014.

Stats and Facts

• New Zealand lead India 8-5 in Tests in NZ, with 10 draws.
• Three of the past six Tests at Basin Reserve have been decided by an innings.
• The average scores in the last six Tests at Basin Reserve increase as days two and three come around. Average runs per innings in first innings: 28.84, second innings: 54.36, third innings: 27.43. So, the team who wins the toss will likely bowl.
• The last time India played a Test at Basin Reserve, Brendon McCullum scored a triple century and put on a 352-run stand with BJ Watling.

Possible Playing 11

New Zealand: 1. Tom Latham, 2. Tom Blundell, 3. Kane Williamson (c), 4. Ross Taylor, 5. Henry Nicholls, 6. BJ Watling (wk), 7. Colin de Grandhomme, 8. Tim Southee, 9. Matt Henry, 10. Kyle Jamieson/Ajaz Patel, 11. Trent Boult

India: 1. Prithvi Shaw, 2. Mayank Agarwal, 3. Cheteshwar Pujara, 4. Virat Kohli (c), 5. Ajinkya Rahane, 6. Hanuma Vihari, 7. Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 8. Ravichandran Ashwin/Ravindra Jadeja, 9. Mohammed Shami, 10. Ishant Sharma, 11. Jasprit Bumrah

Basin Reserve Wellington Pitch Report and Conditions

According to reports, there was quite a bit of grass on the pitch in the days leading up to the Test. It is almost always a bowl first pitch, with the track flattening out on days two and three, as the figures suggest.

The forecast looks good, with minimal rain expected. However, Wellington is usually windy, with quite a bit of wind forecast throughout this Test.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

Option 2:

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Match Prediction

A difficult match to predict. Ultimately, this could come down to which team dominates the opening day of play, as teams who bowl first usually play from in front at the Basin Reserve.

India have the quality to get the win, but it could come down to how well they deal with movement early in the Test.

Thanks for reading!

Also read: Is cricket blogging something you are looking to pursue more of in 2020? Download my free E-Book for tips!