Windies arrive to face Black Caps

Former Australia Wicketkeeper Ian Healey working with Shai Hope and Shane Dowrich during the Caribbean side’s recent training stint in Australia. (Photo courtesy CWI media)
Former Australia Wicketkeeper Ian Healey working with Shai Hope and Shane Dowrich during the Caribbean side’s recent training stint in Australia. (Photo courtesy CWI media)

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, MC – An upbeat West Indies touched down here yesterday to continue preparation for their two-Test series against the hosts, bowling off next month.

The Caribbean side spent the last two-and-a-half weeks in Australia undergoing training for the series which will see matches at the Basin Reserve in Wellington from December 1-5 and at Seddon Park in Hamilton from December 9-13.

Before those Tests, however, the tourists will take on a strong New Zealand A side in a three-day tour match at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln starting Saturday.

The match is the only warm-up fixture prior to the Test series.

Batsmen Roston Chase (left) and Jermaine Blackwood (right) along with fast bowler Shannon Gabriel seem upbeat on their arrival in New Zealand for the upcoming two-match test series starting next month. (Photo courtesy CWI Media)

West Indies are coming off a 1-0 win in a two-Test series against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo earlier this month, and will be hoping to take that winning form into the current tour.

The weight of history will be against the Windies, however, as they have not won a series on New Zealand soil in 22 years.

On their last tour here four years ago, the Windies went down 2-0 in a three-match rubber.

West Indies made just one change to the squad which toured Zimbabwe, bringing in prolific batsman Sunil Ambris for out-of-form right-hander, Kyle Hope.