West Indies v New Zealand - Series Summary

On face value, a 4-1 result between two sides at opposite ends of the ATG pecking order comes as no surprise. However, if truth be told, New Zealand could have very easily taken the series 3-2, and Kiwi fans should be able to take solace in the fact that their team was able to compete on an equal footing with West Indies over the course of the last three Tests.

The first two Tests ended in comfortable victories for the home team once they had overcome a first day hiccup in Jamaica, with Kanhai and Haynes masterful with the bat and Marshall and Walsh irresistible with the ball. However, the matches in Barbados and Guyana provided two of the tightest finishes in all of Test history, and whilst the game at the Bourda really could have gone either way in the end, New Zealand were guilty of throwing away victory in Bridgetown, where they lost their last five wickets for just five runs to hand West Indies victory by 29 runs. The win in Antigua was just the fifth in New Zealand's history and the first against West Indies, and whilst the margin of victory was immense and the performance professional, it will rancour with the Kiwis that such success only came in a dead rubber.

As far as individual performances went, the bowlers were on top for much of the time on wickets that were, on the whole, less than ideal for batting, with Malcolm Marshall the standout on either side. Jack Cowie bowled exceptionally well for New Zealand when he was finally given a chance in the final three Tests, but Richard Hadlee was below his best despite claiming 23 wickets for the Blackcaps. Kanhai was the outstanding batsman on display and was well supported by Haynes, Lloyd and Dujon, but both Richards and Sobers had poor series by their standards and Greenidge managed just 45 runs in 6 innings after missing the first two Tests with injury. For New Zealand, skipper John Reid got better and better as the series went on, whilst Andrew Jones' form went the other way after a very promising start to his ATG career, and Turner, Donnelly and Crowe all made significant contributions without ever being able to dominate on a consistent basis.

All in all, it was a series of 'what might have beens' for New Zealand, but rather than dwelling on failure, the Blackcaps must be positive and take heart from the fact that they were able to run West Indies so close on the field, if not in the scoreline. With the likes of Chris Cairns, Nathan Astle and Craig McMillan all available for selection next season, things might in fact be looking up for New Zealand despite their defeat here, although a record that now reads 5 wins in 47 Tests is still nothing to shout about. West Indies on the other hand have now won their last five series to sit second behind England in the rankings, and season six of ATG cricket promises to be perhaps the most competitive ever.

Leading Series Averages

West Indies Batting
RB Kanhai 445 runs @ 49.44, PJL Dujon 317 @ 45.29, CH Lloyd 369 @ 41.00, DL Haynes 338 @ 37.56, IVA Richards 301 @ 33.44

West Indies Bowling
MD Marshall 29 wkts @ 20.62, GStA Sobers 14 @ 24.71, MA Holding 20 @ 27.40, CA Walsh 15 @ 28.73, CEL Ambrose 9 @ 30.44

New Zealand Batting
JR Reid 323 runs @ 40.38, AH Jones 366 @ 36.60, GM Turner 358 @ 35.80, MP Donnelly 355 @ 35.50, MD Crowe 310 @ 34.44

New Zealand Bowling
J Cowie 21 wkts @ 15.48, SL Boock 14 @ 25.00, RJ Hadlee 23 @ 27.61, JR Reid 10 @ 35.40, RO Collinge 7 @ 46.00

WEST INDIES WON THE SERIES 4-1


Players of the Series: MD Marshall & J Cowie