New Zealand are set to host West Indies in the first Test of the three-match series, scheduled to begin on December 2 at Hagley Oval. After being comprehensively outplayed in both the ODI and T20I series, the visitors will be hoping to stage their comeback in the red-ball format. West Indies, who are riding a wave of misfortunes, will somehow hope to transform their fortunes.
For New Zealand, this Test series has greater significance as it marks their first steps in the 2025–27 ICC World Test Championship cycle, making them the last team to begin their campaign. Kane Williamson, who missed the tests against Zimbabwe, returns to the red-ball format.
New Zealand's most recent outing in whites came earlier this year in Zimbabwe, where they cruised to a comfortable 2–0 win. But that series bore no relevance to the WTC standings; this one does. In contrast, West Indies arrive with five straight defeats, sitting at the bottom of the WTC table. Their recent defeat was against India, where they were handed a 0-2 whitewash. For this tour, the return of Kemar Roach adds experience to a seam group missing Shamar Joseph and Alzarri Joseph.
Head-to-head
Matches - 49
NZ won - 17
WI won - 13
Drawn - 19
NZ Possible XI: Tom Latham (c), Devon Conway/ Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (WK), Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes
WI Possible XI: John Campbell, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Alick Athanaze, Shai Hope, Roston Chase (c), Tevin Imlach (WK), Justin Greaves, Anderson Phillip, Johan Layne, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales