For Kane Williamson, it was business as usual. After spending 12 months away from Test cricket while playing in leagues around the world, Williamson returned with a familiar sense of calm, grinding out his 38th Test half-century on Tuesday, the opening day of the first Test against the West Indies.
Kane Williamson, Latham steady New Zealand after early wicket
It wasn’t a flawless innings from the former captain. Rust was evident as he played and missed more than usual, collected early runs through thick edges, and even survived when his stumps were uprooted by a no-ball on 33. But his trademark determination held firm as he reached 52 off 102 balls, walking in after Devon Conway fell to the third delivery of the match.
Williamson added 93 for the second wicket with Tom Latham, helping New Zealand push through a disciplined but improvised West Indies bowling attack to close the day at 231-9. Latham, also struggling for rhythm, made 24 from 85 balls and contributed just 10 runs to their 105-ball partnership.
West Indies captain Roston Chase opted to bowl first on a green, seamer-friendly Hagley Oval pitch under heavy cloud cover. His pace attack featured 37-year-old Kemar Roach returning for the first time since January, debutant Ojay Shields at 29, and 22-year-old Johann Layne, playing only his second Test.
Shields later admitted that he briefly contemplated giving up cricket before earning his Test debut.
“With age coming on… I didn’t think it was necessary to challenge the youngsters for a place in the Jamaica Scorpions team. So I literally was thinking of giving up,” he said.
“That first over, my heart was pumping real hard. I took control of my emotions and did what I had to do.”
Only 10.3 overs were bowled in a rain-interrupted first session, leaving New Zealand 17-1. An extended second session brought 121 runs but also the wickets of Williamson, Latham, Rachin Ravindra, and Will Young.
Williamson was initially bowled by Shields in the 19th over, but the debutant had overstepped. His eventual dismissal came via a sharp delivery from Justin Greaves, leaving New Zealand 94-2. Latham departed one run later, edged off a moving delivery to keeper Tevin Imlach.
After tea, Tom Blundell injected momentum with 29 off 39 balls as New Zealand, extremely cautious early on, kept Chase’s fielders up and ran an unusually high number of threes. Blundell was eventually bowled by Shields, who claimed his maiden Test wicket.
Michael Bracewell (47 off 73) and Nathan Smith (23) added a valuable 52-run stand for the seventh wicket, pushing New Zealand past the 200-mark.
This series marks New Zealand’s first assignment in the new World Test Championship cycle. Their only other Test cricket in 2025 was a 2-0 series sweep over Zimbabwe in August.
(By PTI Inputs)
