New Zealand will face the West Indies in the second of the three-match ODI series. This article provides details about the West Indies’ Playing 11 vs New Zealand for the second match of the series.
West Indies Playing XI vs New Zealand- 2nd ODI, West Indies Tour of New Zealand 2025:
Openers: Alick Athanaze, John Campbell
Windies have no option other than winning the upcoming second ODI against New Zealand if they want to keep the three-match series alive, having lost the opening game.
For that to happen, the Men in Maroon will have to put on a complete performance in all three departments of the game, which they were not able to do in the previous match, and were good in patches.
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Out of the three factors, the Shai Hope-led side would be most concerned about the effort that it put in the field with a few dropped catches, which resulted in them having to chase 10-15 runs more than what could have been a manageable score.
As far as the team’s batting is concerned, the team management would want the batters to play with a bit more freedom, especially in the first ten overs, which wasn’t the case in the first game, as the West Indian top order looked quite timid in the chase.
The onus will be on the opening pair of Alick Athanaze and John Campbell to get the team off to a solid start in the first powerplay and lay a platform for the middle order batters to capatalize on.
In addition to that, the former ODI World Cup winners would also expect both batters to prolong their innings if they get off to a good start individually.
Middle-order batsmen and all-rounders: Keacy Carty, Shai Hope (wk/c), Sherfane Rutherfoard, Roston Chase, Justin Graves, Romario Shepherd, Matthew Forde
The opening duo will be followed by a middle order which, like the openers, played far too many dot balls in the first match, something it would like to rectify in the next game.
The lack of rotation of strike in the first half of the chase proved to be decisive as West Indies found themselves behind and lost the match by seven runs.
The likes of Keacy Carty and captain Shai Hope, along with the openers, will have to get the tempo right if the team bats second in the upcoming game.
Amidst the lack of intent from the four batters of the West Indies, the contribution of Sherfane Rutherford, who scored a half-century, and the lower middle order was commendable.
The West Indian batting lineup would feel that they were in touching distance of taking a 1-0 lead in the series only if they had paced the chase correctly and would like to do that in what happens to be a do-or-die game for them.
Bowlers: Shamar Springer, Jayden Seales
If we talk about the bowling attack of the West Indies, it might not have bowlers with express pace, but each of them knows what is expected of them and has fulfilled their role so far on this tour.
The likes of Matthew Forde were able to provide back-to-back wickets with the new ball, while Jayden Seales kept this in check in his second spell.
The duo was well supported by pacer Shamar Springer and experienced spinner Roston Chase.
The only concern for the West Indies going into the second match of the series would be the form of the fifth bowling option, with Justin Graves being on the expensive side in the previous side, and Romario Shepherd not completing his quota of overs.
Windies would hope for both bowlers to come good in the upcoming match as they are expected to go with an unchanged playing XI.
