Mount Maunganui. In the ongoing Test series between New Zealand and West Indies, the series of injuries to fast bowlers is not showing any sign of stopping. In this series, West Indies’ senior fast bowler Kemar Roach was out of Friday’s game on the second day of the Test being played in Mount Maunganui.
West Indies got only one wicket on the first day. Meanwhile, while bowling the 89th over, Kemar Roach felt a strain in his hamstring and left the field after completing the over. He was not even seen in the team’s warm-up session on Friday morning. It was confirmed during the broadcast that Roach was not available for the second day’s play. However, it is not clear when he will be able to return to the team. Apart from this, Shai Hope also stayed in the hotel due to unwell.
West Indies are already 1-0 down in the three-match Test series and are facing the threat of a big score in the first innings as Devon Conway moves towards a double century. In the absence of Roach, West Indies’ fast bowling attack is now dependent on Jayden Seales, who has taken only five wickets in five innings so far on this tour. Anderson Phillip and Justin Greaves are supporting him.
The team’s troubles did not end here. OJ Shields and Teg Narine Chanderpaul are also suffering from minor injuries. When Justin Greaves went out of the field in the second session, local player Sebastian Heath had to take the field as a substitute for the West Indies.
New Zealand has also faced injuries in this series. Matt Henry and Nathan Smith were injured in the Christchurch Test, where West Indies achieved a hard-fought draw. Blair Tickner’s participation in the second Test was also limited. At the same time, Tom Blundell, who suffered from hamstring problem on the first day of the first Test, has now recovered and returned in the third Test.
It is noteworthy that West Indies have lost six out of seven Tests played so far in the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle. This is New Zealand’s first Test series of the new cycle, in which it has drawn one match and won one.
Comments are closed.