Mount Maunganui, 19 December (Crimes Of India) – The injury woes continue for fast bowlers in the ongoing Test series between New Zealand and the West Indies. In a setback for the visitors, senior West Indies pacer Kemar Roach was forced to leave the field on the second day of the Test match at Mount Maunganui and did not participate in the day’s play.
West Indies managed only one wicket on the first day. During the 89th over, while bowling, Roach felt a strain in his hamstring. After completing that over, he walked off the field and was absent from the team’s warm-up session on Friday morning. Broadcasts confirmed that Roach was unavailable for the second day’s play, though his return timeline remains unclear. Additionally, Shai Hope stayed back at the hotel due to illness.
In the three-match Test series, West Indies trail 1-0 and are struggling to contain a big first-innings score as Devon Conway moves towards a double century. With Roach sidelined, the West Indies pace attack now relies heavily on Jayden Seales, who has taken only five wickets in five innings on this tour. He is supported by Anderson Phillip and Justin Greaves.
The team’s troubles extend further as Oje Shields and Teague Narayan Chandrapaul are also dealing with minor injuries. In the second session, when Justin Greaves left the field, local player Sebastian Heath was brought in as a substitute for West Indies.
New Zealand too has faced injury challenges during the series. In the Christchurch Test, Matt Henry and Nathan Smith were injured, where West Indies secured a hard-fought draw. Blair Tickner’s involvement was limited in the second Test. However, Tom Blundell, who suffered a hamstring issue on the first day of the first Test, has recovered and returned for the third Test.
It is notable that West Indies have lost six out of seven Tests played so far in the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle. This series marks New Zealand’s first in the new cycle, in which they have already recorded one win and one draw.
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