Third Test preview: New Zealand v West Indies

Cricket365
December 18, 2013

The West Indies, unfortunately, haven't been able to walk the talk – and require a prompt turnaround to maintain a semblance of respect ahead of next year's return series.

New Zealand have named an unchanged team, and rightly so, after all-rounder Corey Anderson recovered from a shin injury. His selection retains the right balance – and might substantiate the <a href='http://www.paddypower.com/bet/cricket/cricket-test-matches/New-Zealand-V-West-Indies-6237891.html' target='_blank' class='instorylink'>leading run-scoring stakes</a>. Any player keeping all-rounder Doug Bracewell out of the side deserves credit.

The Windies have to find a fitting replacement for the suspended Shane Shillingford. Whether or not you agree with the International Cricket Council's findings, Shillingford's absence due to an illegal bowling action is a big blow.

Fellow slow bowler Sunil Narine is the most likely to step in, with all and sundry hopeful a fine stretch of form in limited-overs cricket will graduate to success in the Test match arena. Left-armer Veerasammy Permaul or seamer Sheldron Cottrell, too, are options.

Three of the Windies' last four results have ended in heavy innings-plus defeats, and breaking the trend against a confident Black Caps unit, eager to set themselves apart from the Test rankings' bottomfeeders, will take a genuinely collective effort. To many individuals do not make a team.

Key Men Ross Taylor's outstanding big contributions in the series so far have seemed recreational more than vocational, and the former captain is bound to cash in again.

Whoever it is, Cottrell, Permaul or Sunil Narine, they have big shoes to fill after Shillingford's exit. Conditions, meanwhile, might see the Windies opt for two specialist spinners – but neither first-choice.

Last Five Head-To-Head Results 2013: Second Test: New Zealand won by an innings and 73 runs in Wellington 2013: First Test: Match drawn in Dunedin 2012: Second Test: West Indies won by five wickets in Kingston 2012: First Test: West Indies won by nine wickets in North Sound 2008: Second Test: Match drawn in Napier

Prediction The West Indies have been unable to string together patches of consistency, let alone overall success. New Zealand have, and will probably do so again, justifying solid <a href='http://www.paddypower.com/bet/cricket' target='_blank' class='instorylink'>4/7 online cricket betting odds</a>.

Teams New Zealand (confirmed): Hamish Rutherford, Peter Fulton, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum, BJ Watling, Corey Anderson, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult, Ish Sodhi.

West Indies (probable): Kirk Edwards, Kieran Powell, Darren Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Narsingh Deonarine, Denesh Ramdin, Darren Sammy, Sunil Narine, Tino Best, Shannon Gabriel.

Dates: 19 to 23 December Morning session: 10:30-12:30 (21:30-23:30 previous day GMT) Afternoon session: 13:10-15:10 (00:10-02:10 GMT) Evening session: 15:30-17:30 (02:30-04:30 GMT) On-field umpires: Ian Gould and Paul Reiffel Third umpire: Nigel Llong Match referee: Roshan Mahanama