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SELECT 👉 Basin Reserve feed
By The Numbers: Blackcaps to field fresh bowling attack for second Test
Alex Chapman •  December 10th, 2025 9:24 am
Daryl Mitchell, Zak Foulkes and Jacob Duffy | Photo: Chris Symes/Photosport
The reinforcements have been called in, new names and faces are heard and seen, and that’s meant plenty of numbers are floating around ahead of the second Test between the Blackcaps and West Indies at Wellington's Basin Reserve.
So, let’s run through a few of them and try to streamline it all.Â
Let’s start with the big one:
102
Or more specifically, 102.4 - the amount of overs that Zak Foulkes and Jacob Duffy bowled in the first test in Christchurch. Serious ticker from two fast bowlers on a pitch that, in the second innings at least, offered very little.
How will they back up? They haven’t bowled since the end of proceedings at Hagley – understandably so. And in good news, Jacob Oram told Sport Nation this morning that both have pulled up well and will play.
It’d be a serious challenge mentally to have to bowl today though, should New Zealand choose to do so. Or, do the Windies even spin it the other way and say “we know you’re tired, you get back out there. That ties into...Â
17
The toss history at the Basin Reserve - the last 17 captains who have won the toss have chosen to bowl first. It’s a streak that goes back to 2011.
Will there be any temptation for Tom Latham to give his bowlers more time off, and bat first? Â
Tom Latham taking the toss ahead of the first Test against West Indies | Photo: Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
7
The amount of Tests the entire pace bowling contingent have played - that's if Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes and Blair Tickner all play.
This genuinely may be one of the least-experienced attacks that the New Zealand test team has ever fielded. Certainly in recent memory.
3
That leads into the next number – three. The most Tests that any of these fast bowlers have played – that's Blair Tickner.
Three’s also the amount of possible debutants for New Zealand. Duffy and Foulkes will both play, so too Tickner, unless they throw in a curve ball, and given he was called in first, therefore Michael Rae will make his debut.
Regardless, given he and Kristian Clarke are both uncapped, seven is the most number of tests this entire fast bowling group will have played.
Glenn Phillips celebrates his 2024 five-wicket haul against Australia at Basin Reserve | Photo: Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
15
I specifically say fast bowlers because Glenn Phillips appears to come back into the side. With 15 tests, he’ll be the bowler with the most-experience, adding offspin to a fast bowling heavy group.
If picked, you’d think that’ll be for Michael Bracewell, and bat six. Arguably the most-exciting player in the country, many will be thrilled to see the man with 23 on his back flying around the field.
6
Of New Zealand’s last six tests at home, they’ve won just one. That’s their worst run since a 10-match streak from 2011-2013 where they won just once.
They won’t care about the streak, but a win in Wellington, would certainly ease things.Â
So, more numbers than a calculator, and plenty to ponder, ahead of potential history, and definitely ahead of new caps being given out.
What an exciting prospect for a team that for so long has been all about stability. Many asked for players to be given opportunities, well, now they’ve got their chances.Â
Join Sport Nation’s award-winning commentary team for live ball-by-ball coverage of the three-Test series between the Blackcaps and the West Indies, the second Test begins December 10 from 10am on the Sport Nation app and all New Zealand frequencies.
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