The battle for Test cricket’s wooden spoon has moved from the Arctic gloom of Dunedin to the warmth and Caribbean sunshine of Napier – and the shift in the balance between the teams prior to the second Test is just as stark

Tony Cozier18-Dec-2008
Will West Indies pick left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn at a venue where Monty Panesar picked up six wickets in March? © AFP
The battle for Test cricket’s wooden spoon has moved from the Arctic gloom of Dunedin to the warmth and Caribbean sunshine of Napier – and the shift in the balance between the teams prior to the second Test is just as stark.By mid-afternoon of the fourth day of the first Test last Sunday, West Indies were 173 for 6 replying to New Zealand’s 365. The infamously fragile tail was exposed. The situation was as bleak as the weather.Jerome Taylor’s brazen, counter-attacking 106, his seventh-wicket partnership of 153 with the immovable Shivnarine Chanderpaul and two New Zealand second innings wickets in the final 10 overs of the day so transformed the contest that the team happier at the last day washout was the one in the new, widely condemned black-trimmed sweaters.The swing in fortunes has continued in the interim and the force is surely with West Indies. It was evident in their exuberance, even on the flight into Napier when the vivacious, black Air New Zealand hostess, originally from Zimbabwe, had Sewnarine Chattergoon and Shivnarine Chanderpaul handing out coffee, tea, biscuits and water to the delight of team-mates and passengers.The attitude was the same at their net session yesterday under a welcome blue sky and a temperature in the mid 20 degrees at the expansive Nelson Park, across the road from the Test venue, McLean Park.With the conditions in their favour West Indies provide an excellent opportunity to reverse three successive series losses to New Zealand, their last victory dating back to 1996, and keep New Zealand below them at No.8 on the ICC Test standings.It is not to say that captain Chris Gayle is without his concerns. His latest opening partner, Sewnarine Chattergoon, was out for 13 and lucky to even get there. Wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin once more fell cheaply, a failure diminished by Taylor’s brilliance.The bowlers, as usual, lacked consistency and were hard pressed to dismiss opponents with a new opening batsman (Tim McIntosh, who scored 34) and an experimental switch in the order (Danuel Flynn up to No. 3 where he scored 95 and Jese Ryder to No. 5 where he made 89). All three are left-handers and West Indies need to reassess their tactics of a 7-2 off side-leg side field bowling to a line wide of off stump, where all three are strong.The balance of the attack will also be high of the agenda of the convenor of selectors, Clyde Butts, who is in New Zealand for the entire tour in his official capacity, Gayle, vice-captain Ramdin and coach John Dyson.In the first Test, they opted for Lionel Baker, on debut, as the fourth fast bowler in preference to Sulieman Benn, the tall left-arm spinner. The decision was influenced by heavy rain preceding the match and the expectation that the pitch would be damp. There was no help for speed, swing or seam and Gayle ended up bowling his off spin for 20 overs on the first day – and claiming three of the four wickets.Knowledgeable local information that the pitch at McLean Park is hard and faster and bouncier than at Dunedin’s University Oval would point to the retention of the all-pace bias.Yet reference to the previous Test at the ground, won by England by 121 runs in March, would favour Benn.In England’s second innings 467 for 7 declared, New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori wheeled away for 45 overs with his left-arm spin for a return of 4 for 158. The figures of England’s equivalent, Monty Panesar, in New Zealand’s second innings were 46-17-126-6.The presence of West Indies’ only genuine all-rounder at present, Dwayne Bravo, would solve the problem. He would be No.6 in the order and the fourth quick bowler, allowing for the inclusion of a specialist spinner. He continues to recuperate from his ankle operation. He cannot return fast enough.In the meantime, West Indies have every reason to assert themselves. It is not often in recent times that has been the case.