– Tony Cozier says that there is a hint at tough work remaining for the West Indies bowlers over the remaining nine days of the test series.
By Tony Cozier
In DUNEDIN
The signs on the opening day of the series weren’t encouraging for the West Indies.
There was more than just a hint at tough work over the remaining nine trying to dislodge New Zealand’s batsmen.
Not one of the 444 balls the six bowlers used deviated perceptively either off the light green pitch or through the chilly air.
Jerome Taylor and Daren Powell threatened briefly with their speed and aggression with the new ball. Otherwise, they and the other two members of the seemingly obligatory all-pace attack – the wayward Fidel Edwards and the debutant Lionel Baker – spent most of their time aiming wide of off-stump with a 7-2 field to the three left-handers who contributed 183 of New Zealand’s 226 for four.
The 15.4 overs lost when clear, sunny skies clouded over and play was prematurely halted was a relief more to the West Indies than the home team.
The defensive tactics reflected a lack of confidence and proved ineffective against batsmen who indulged their liking for cuts and off drives. There were 29 fours across the small, but lush outfield of the picturesque University Oval.
The story of the day was accurately summarised by the 20 overs of steady, but unthreatening, off-spin Chris Gayle felt obliged to bowl.
Such prolonged spells by the captain are rare but he was now rewarded with three wickets.
Awarded is perhaps a more appropriate verb. Tim McIntosh, the tall left-handed opener, and Ross Taylor, the stroke-making No.4, were out needlessly slogging and the impressive Daniel Flynn, another left-hander filling the No.3 spot for the first time, was five short of his hundred when victim of the experimental umpires’ review system, in place in this series for only the second time.
Gayle and wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin shouted themselves hoarse in appeal as Flynn, beaten on the angle, was struck on the front pad easing forward.
Indian umpire Amish Saheba, officiating in his first Test, was understandably unsure as to whether contact had been in line and ruled not out. Immediately Gayle made the T signal to ask for the television evidence to be reviewed by third umpire, Rudi Koertzen.
Convinced that all relevant criteria had been satisfied, Koertzen radioed back his conclusions to Saheba who crossed his arms across his chest to cancel his original verdict and raised his finger.
The entire process lasted perhaps 20 seconds and the correct decision was given.
The system was first used in India’s three Tests in Sri Lanka earlier this year and will be again in the new year when Australia visit South Africa and England are in the West Indies.
Something would have to go radically wrong for it not to be finally ratified and that doesn’t seem likely.
It at least created a little excitement on a day that meandered along a predictable path.
What life there was occurred during the new ball spell and for a couple of overs in the middle of the second session during a contest between the Taylors, batsman Ross and bowler Jerome.
Jerome had so unsettled McIntosh with his 90 miles-an-hour pace, his line and his bouncers that the opener spent 38 balls before he could eke out his first Test run, an edged slash over gully when Edwards replaced Taylor.
Powell, initially bothered running into the afternoon breeze, gradually settled and secured the only wicket before lunch.
Jamie How, the most regular of the 13 openers New Zealand have used in the past two years, drove aerily at one wide of off-stump and Shivnarine Chanderpaul gathered a neat low catch at point.
It would be another two hours in the middle before the West Indies collected another wicket. McIntosh overcame his unsteady start, mainly against Edwards’ loose offerings, and was in like Flynn when he chose to lift Gayle over mid-on.
Baker was set deepish in the position, the shot was miscued and the catch was duly gathered in. It was a moment of carelessness by the careful opener but nothing to compare with the next dismissal.
Ross Taylor arrived to be immediately put through a taxing examination from his namesake.
Jerome had clearly done his homework on the gifted New Zealander, noting his penchant for playing across his front pad and aiming to leg early in the piece.
It has accounted for seven lbw dismissals in his previous 23 innings and the bowler immediately set about attacking the stumps.
Two or three times the Kiwi Taylor got the bat down just in time to prevent another lbw demise but too quickly, Jerome lost his accuracy, the batsman cut and flicked him for a couple of boundaries and, after 40 minutes, was looking ominous.
Then, for no reason except a sudden rush of blood to whatever part of the brain controls such things, he chose an ugly crosshaul at a straight one from Gayle outside off-stump. The ball inevitably went skywards to land in the waiting hands of Xavier Marshall, stationed 20 yards away at square-leg.
It seemed a critical break but the West Indies lacked the aggression to seize the moment.
Gayle kept on wheeling away, increasingly veering towards the leg-side to be easily picked off for singles, and Baker was entrusted with more work than his inexperience merited, so intent on bowling to his packed off-side that he sent down three wides and little of merit.
Flynn, neat and well organised, and the heavy-set Ryder were never troubled in a stand of 61 and, after the review system got rid of Flynn (95, 232 minutes, 188 balls, 12 fours), Ryder assumed the lead role, passing his 50 with seven boundaries, mostly cuts.
With New Zealand’s strong lower order, a large total loomed.
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