Should Tickner be out of action for the rest of this test match, the Black Caps would again be down in their bowling ranks, after Matt Henry and Nathan Smith were ruled out during the series-opening draw in Christchurch.
Blair Tickner celebrates a wicket on day one of the second test between the Black Caps and West Indies. Photo / Photosport
Injury aside, though, the Black Caps reached stumps as the happier of the two sides. Captain Tom Latham’s decision to bowl first was rewarded with all 10 wickets, as New Zealand made five changes to the XI from Hagley Oval.
Tickner (4-32) led the way to skittle the West Indies of 205, supported admirably by debutant Michael Rae (3-67). In fact, the Black Caps’ bowling unit is so inexperienced that while Glenn Phillips (1-19) has taken the most career wickets leading into the test, Kane Williamson is second with 30.
Wicketkeeper Mitchell Hay also gave a good account of himself on debut, taking one catch and looking tidy between the stumps, with the only blemish being two byes – albeit balls that went over his head.
Shai Hope was the best on offer for the visitors but could only manage 48 before he fell to Tickner, as the West Indies slipped from 153-3 to 205 all out.
In reply, the Black Caps reached 24-0 at stumps, behind by 181 runs and eyeing an insurmountable first innings total as the wicket browns off and becomes better to bat on.
Latham (seven not out) and Devon Conway (16 not out) will resume on day two, as the Black Caps look to bat the West Indies out of the game.
As Latham won the toss and bowled – the 18th successive captain to do so at the Basin Reserve – the West Indies’ openers played positively adding 50 in 81 balls, raised when Rae was pulled for six over square leg by Brandon King.
It wasn’t until after drinks that Tickner broke through, removing King for 33, and then Kavem Hodge for a duck – both LBW – as 66-0 became 66-2. Tickner made exceptional use of the swinging ball early on, before going short later in the innings to equal success.
After struggling in the morning, Rae joined the party after lunch. John Campbell had ridden his luck in the morning – nearly run out for 21 and dropped by Latham on 23. However, that luck ran on 44, as Rae drew Cambell’s edge through to Daryl Mitchell at slip to make it 93-3.
As was the case in Christchurch, Hope proved to be a thorn in New Zealand’s side. Fresh from scores of 56 and 140, Hope added 50 with captain Roston Chase, and effortlessly marched to 48.
But Tickner’s return saw the West Indies’ middle order fall apart. A well-directed bouncer left Hope in no-man’s land, and could only glove to Kane Williamson behind the wicket, before Tickner took his fourth when an inside edge from Chase uprooted leg-stump at 176-5.
At the other end, Rae had his second – to give Hay his first catch – when first-test hero Justin Greaves edged behind for 13, leaving the West Indies out of specialist batters, and relying on the lower order for any kind of first innings total.
Michael Rae celebrates his first test wicket for the Black Caps, against the West Indies in Wellington. Photo / Photosport
In Christchurch, Kemar Roach batted for 290 balls across both innings without being dismissed to save the first test. In Wellington, he lasted just three, before he was pinned on the pad by Rae, as the tourists slipped to 185-7.
But after shining with the ball all day, disaster struck before drinks, when Tickner was forced from the field. Down a bowler, again, Phillips stepped up to remove Imlach (16) by spinning a ball past the outside edge to clip off-stump at 199-8.
Anderson Phillip (5 off 50) was run-out at the non-striker’s end by uncapped sub-fielder Kristian Clarke attempting to steal a single. And when Jacob Duffy (1-33) had Ojay Shields (0) caught at third slip by Williamson, the bowlers’ job was done.
With 30 minutes to survive before the close, Latham and Conway both had their moments. The captain nearly fell to a sharp caught-and-bowled by Jayden Seales, as his opening partner survived an LBW shout from the same bowler.
Latham offered one final chance in the day’s last over, as a leading edge off Shields landed between third slip and gully. However, both of the Black Caps openers will return on day two, as batting conditions only improve.
West Indies 205 (Hope 48; Tickner 4-32, Rae 3-67)
New Zealand 24-0 (Conway 16 not out, Latham 7 not out)
New Zealand trail by 181 runs
Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.
