Last Updated on 3 months by Charbel Coorey
NZ vs WI 2nd Test Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | NZ vs WI 2nd Test Dream11 Prediction Today | New Zealand vs West Indies 2nd Test Key Players | Wellington Pitch Report
Amidst all the news surrounding Kane Williamson’s absence from the 2nd Test due to the birth of his child, New Zealand lock horns with West Indies at Wellington as they will aim to whitewash their opponents. A lot of changes are expected in both sides due to injuries; some players have recovered while others have been ruled out.
Earlier in the week, the Kiwis took a 1-0 lead in a little over four days, even with rain interruptions, against the Jason Holder-led side which was no match to the home team. A win in this match will mean that the Kiwis will go on top of the table in World Test championship and raise their chances of reaching the WTC Final which is to be played in June 2021.
Kane Williamson’s career-best knock of 251 resulted in a mammoth first innings total of 519 and except for a brief fightback by Joseph and Blackwood as they put on a 155-run stand in the 2nd innings while following on, the West Indies were well and truly outplayed over the course of the first Test.
Also read: Twitter reactions to Kane Williamson’s brilliant 251
Key Players
- BJ Watling has an average of 42 since Jan 2019 which is impressive considering he has scored over 500 runs, only 3 keepers have surpassed the mark.
- Tom Latham has scored most runs as an opener in the last three years,
- Tim Southee has picked 46 wickets at home in the last 2 years, which is the 4th most by a pacer at home in the period.
- Kyle Jamison has 40+ scores in his last three innings, to go with wickets with the ball.
- Ross Taylor has a terrific record at the Basin Reserve. In fact, he has the most runs of any player on this ground (1,270, avg. 63.50).
- In the last three years, only 4 all-rounders have scored over 500 runs and taken over 50 wickets. Jason Holder has the highest average difference of 19 among them. He has to perform in this game for the Windies.
- Jeraime Blackwood and Alzarri Joseph’s half-centuries in the 2nd innings was the only bright spot for the West Indies in the 1st Test. The duo will hope to carry from that performance.
- In the absence of Kemar Roach, Shannon Gabriel is expected to lead the West Indies bowling attack. He took three wickets in the first innings including Blundell, Taylor and Young.
- Trent Boult has taken 46 wickets at the Basin Reserve at an average of 26.93. Neil Wagner, who has moved up to second in the Test bowling rankings, has taken 37 scalps at 28.83 on this ground.
Stats and Facts
- In the past 10 years, West Indies have won only twice away from home against the Top 8 sides, against England in 2020 and 2016.
- West Indies last Test win against New Zealand came way back in 2014 and the last Test win in New Zealand came back in 1995.
- New Zealand are unbeaten in three of their last four Tests at the Basin Reserve in Wellington (three wins, one draw).
Possible Playing 11s
Will Young who opened the batting in the previous test will bat at three while Blundell will join Latham to open the batting. Watling, who was nursing an injury in the previous test will come in for skipper Williamson.
Probable NZ XI: 1. Tom Latham (c), 2. Tom Blundell, 3. Will Young, 4. Ross Taylor, 5. Henry Nicholls, 6. BJ Watling (wk), 7. Daryl Mitchell, 8. Kyle Jamieson, 9. Tim Southee, 10. Neil Wagner, 11. Trent Boult
With Roach and Dowrich ruled out due to injury, Windies have to make a couple of forced changes. It will be toss-up between De Silva and Hetmyer to replace the keeper-batsman while Chemar Holder will certainly replace Roach.
Probable WI XI: 1. John Campbell, 2. Kraigg Brathwaite, 3. Darren Bravo, 4. Shamarh Brooks, 5. Roston Chase, 6. Jermaine Blackwood, 7. Joshua da Silva (wk)/Shimron Hetmyer, 8. Jason Holder (c), 9. Alzarri Joseph, 10. Chemar Holder, 11. Shannon Gabriel
Basin Reserve Wellington Pitch Report and Weather
The wicket is expected to be on the greener side just like the one we saw at Seddon Park in the first test and the Kiwi bowlers will make merry on it. The weather is expected to be pleasant around 18 degrees with no rain expected over the next 5 days in Wellington.
Dream11 Prediction
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Option 2:
Match Prediction
Kane Williamson will be a huge miss for the Kiwis but West Indies are also missing two of their key players in Dowrich and Roach. The pitch is expected to be similar and the Carribean side need to punch way above their weight to draw the series. Anything other than a Kiwi win will come as a major surprise.
Written by Sarthak Karkhanis. Follow Sarthak on Twitter today.
