Big picture: West Indies desperate for ranking points
West Indies are in danger of missing out on automatic qualification for a second consecutive ODI World Cup. Having failed to qualify for the 2023 tournament, they are currently ranked 10th in the ICC ODI rankings, just outside the direct qualifying spots for 2027, making every remaining ODI a high-stakes affair. More than 1,000 ranking points separating them from ninth-place Bangladesh means the West Indies are all but destined for another global qualifier. Their urgency to change this situation was evident during the rain-ravaged series against Sri Lanka last month. West Indies went into this in hopes of moving up the rankings, but ended up with just one completed game, which they lost, disappointing their hopes of qualifying. Head coach Daren Sammy has since described the five-match series against New Zealand as a series of “must-win scenarios” and also hopes to use it to identify players who can add an X-factor in the 50-overs format. Teenage spinner Vitel Laws is one such player whose home conditions provide the perfect stage for his international debut. New Zealand’s priorities are different. With their qualification for the World Cup all but assured, their focus is on improving their squad ahead of the tournament. They have won seven of the 10 ODI series since the 2023 World Cup, although they lost their last ODI match 2-1 in Bangladesh. A depleted pace attack – due to workload management on their Test pack and injuries to several others – means Jacob Duffy will lead an inexperienced line-up that will feature Nathan Smith, Christian Clarke, Matthew Fisher and Ben Lister uncapped.
For the West Indies, it’s about staying in the World Cup race; for New Zealand, it’s about fine-tuning the path to get there. This could be a stunning five-game penalty shootout, but for that to happen they also need the weather to hold up its end of the bargain.
West Indies LLLLL (Last five completed ODIs; most recent first)
New Zealand LLWWW
Spotlight on Laws and Fisher
Vitel LovesThe 19-year-old left-arm spinner took ten wickets at 22.70 in the Under-19 World Cup. He impressed the selectors so much that not only was he called up to the ODI squad, but former West Indies spinner Nikita Miller was also included in the support staff, just to facilitate the youngster’s introduction. Can he leapfrog the struggling Gudakesh Moti to become West Indies’ top spinner in the ODI team? New Zealand fast Matthew Fisher hit 150 kmph on his T20I debut in April and is now on the verge of making his ODI debut. Although his pace is very fast, Fischer also spent some time this year in Chennai in India to work on variations. Inspired by the autobiographies of fast bowlers Mitchell Johnson and Simon Jones, Fisher tried to work on the mental side of the game while battling injuries. Now he is ready to open up and prove that he is a regular ODI player.
The pitches at Providence Stadium in Guyana have historically skewed heavily towards spinners, offering sharp turns and low bounce. The surface was updated ahead of the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup but retained the same characteristics. In the last ODI series played at this stadium – back in July 2022 between West Indies and Bangladesh – the team batting first could only score 149 for 9 (in 41 overs), just 108 and just 178.
Rain is forecast on the morning of the game, but the weather may improve by the afternoon when the game starts.
Team News – Pierre replaces injured Chase
West Indies added Hari Pierre to the squad after Roston Chase suffered a finger injury during the second Test against Sri Lanka. Shimron Hetmyer will not be available for the first few games due to his US MLC commitments. Shamar Springer dropped out of the series following the death of his mother and was replaced in the cast by Keemo Paul.
West Indies (probable): 1 John Campbell, 2 Justin Greaves, 3 Kisi Carthy, 4 Shai Hope (captain and labor), 5 Sherfane Rutherford, 6 Amir Jangu, 7 Matthew Ford, 8 Gudakesh Moti, 9 Vitel Laws/Hari Pierre, 10 Alzarri Joseph, 11 Shamar Joseph/Jayden Seals.
Regular white-ball captain Mitchell Santner has returned to the New Zealand squad along with Daryl Mitchell, Michael Bracewell and Duffy. Ben Sears is ruled out through injury and Lister is named as a late replacement.
New Zealand (likely): 1 Henry Nicholls, 2 Nick Kelly, 3 Will Young, 4 Tom Latham (wk), 5 Daryl Mitchell, 6 Dean Foxcroft, 7 Michael Bracewell, 8 Mitchell Santner (capt), 9 Jacob Duffy, 10 Nathan Smith/Matt Fisher, 11 Jayden Lennox/Christian Clarke.