Notes from the Oval #1

The first edition for the home 'summer' has shamelessly tapped into the Ashes zeitgeist, while raising a glass to Lumsden's finest

He’s talking about me in that subhead up there. Getty Images

NZ 231 & 32 for 0 West Indies 167

Long-time subscribers to The Bounce will know the drill by now, but if you’ve just joined for the ride, during the test season I focus in on a few nuggets and points of interest. In this edition, I’ll put the spotlight on days one and two. I’m not one who feels compelled to always have the last word, so please feel free to debate the merits among yourselves, but please keep it civil… which to be fair, you always do because you’re way smarter than average.

THE SKINNY

The West Indies were right in this test. Right until the last ball of the 43rd over of their first innings, that is.

They were in the game in large part because they won a toss in helpful conditions, but it would be reductive and unfair to pin it all on a coin flip. When New Zealand had reached 94-1 on day one, it looked as though the West Indies had thrown away the best of the conditions mainly because their first- and second-change pace-bowling options behind Kemar Roach and Jayden Seales looked a long way short of test standard. Allrounder Justin Greaves saved the day, however, with a dynamic spell that accounted for the set pair of Kane Williamson (52) and Tom Latham (24).

Like the West Indies on day one, New Zealand will feel like they should have done more with helpful conditions this morning, but credit to Shai Hope (56) and Tagenarine Chanderpaul (52) who showed real grit and skill until the former got too far inside a short one from Jacob Duffy and gloved to Latham, precipitating a bleak collapse that has been as much a part of the modern history of the West Indies as the fast-bowling battery was part of their gilded history.

Here are five thoughts and observations: