West Indies vs New Zealand – 1st T20 International Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is West Indies vs New Zealand taking place? Wednesday, August 10th, 2022 – 19:30 (UK)
Where is West Indies vs New Zealand taking place? Sabina Park, Kingston
What is the expected weather for West Indies vs New Zealand? 30-32c, dry with bright sunshine and strong winds which should fade as play goes on
What channel is West Indies vs New Zealand on? The match will be televised live on BT Sport in the UK
Where can I stream West Indies vs New Zealand? BT Sport subscribers will be able to stream the match live via the BT Sport website and app
LAST MEETING
New Zealand beat West Indies by 72 runs
THE TEAM NEWS
WEST INDIES
- West Indies didn’t have long to reflect on their series loss against India as they get set for these three T20i fixtures vs New Zealand
- Due to personal reasons, Fabian Allan remains out of the squad for this series after missing the games vs India and the all-rounder’s absence will once again come as a blow for the hosts.
- No additional players have been called into the squad as it stands, meaning that opening batter Evin Lewis once again misses out, whilst spinner Gudakesh Motie is yet to recover from injury.
NEW ZEALAND
- New Zealand are coming off the back of a hugely successful European tour in regards to white ball cricket, winning all of their games against Ireland, Scotland and Netherlands respectively, so carrying that momentum with them to the West Indies will be crucial here.
- The Black Caps are boosted by the return of numerous first-choice players following a period of rest, such as bowlers Trent Boult and Tim Southee alongside Kane Williamson and Devon Conway.
- The big challenge for New Zealand will be finding the right balance when it comes to integrating the return players back into the team and sticking with those who performed so well in Europe such as Michael Bracewell.
THE PREDICTION
West Indies are perhaps playing New Zealand at a bad time when taking into account how well the tourists have performed in white ball cricket over the past month or so. A deep batting line-up has seen them pile on runs, whilst the bowling has proven both tight and potent. The Windies showed flashes against India, but ultimately their inconsistency let them down and momentum is with their opponents going into this first game. Therefore, back New Zealand to win this first match and secure an early series lead.
