Rampant New Zealand ruffle World Test Championship feathers

West Indies' voyage across the Tasman proved an unmitigated disaster. Imagine holding your cool through an arduous 54-hour journey to hit New Zealand and braving the necessary evil of quarantine protocols only to be mashed to the pulp in the T20 tabloid, supposedly your strong suit. The colour of the ball changes from white to rasping red but your fortunes do not. The ringmaster that is Kane Williamson spends ten hours at the crease in his first Test outing since March and like a loyal apprentice, you cater to each of his whims en route a career-best 251. Personal obligations devoid the rivals of that spinal cord in the tour wrapper and still you bite the dust by an innings and 12 runs. Trudging back home empty-handed with their pride shattered, egos busted and a harrowing reality check as baggage must be a tough pill to swallow. 

New Zealand's clean sweep over West Indies has afforded them a realistic shot at making the World Test Championship (WTC) final, which will be hosted by the Mecca of Cricket, Lord's in June 2021. The Blackcaps are now breathing down big cheeses India and Australia's neck in the WTC league rankings following their resounding triumph in Wellington on Monday. The upsurge of New Zealand leaves a whole lot resting on the much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy as the rally to the summit clash picks up steam. 

Kyle Jamieson might just be four Tests old but he hates being a pillion rider in an attack replete of venom in Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Neil Wagner. Having bucketed 20 wickets at 14.55 with a couple of glitzy fifers, the tearaway quick has already become a massive point of concern in the opposition camps. West Indies were caught at their wits' end as balls released with a picture-perfect seam presentation dovetailed with the juice in the pitch and fabricated all sorts of trickery. Stand-in skipper Tom Latham had the best seat in the house - the slip cordon - to witness the speed demon operating at the peak of his powers. And the deputy was lavish with his words when it came to appraising the new kid on the block. 

"In his short career so far, he's come in and had success straight away. He's a guy who is always willing to learn, always willing to pick the brains of the other guys, which is great," Latham talked up the rookie in the post-match presser. ''That goes for all the bowlers, they are always willing to bowl - into the wind, down the wind. From my point of view, it made my job pretty easy.''

"When he's able to do it with both bat and ball, it's great for our side. He's done it with the ball and then the performance with the bat in the first Test was outstanding. The performances are great for our scores and I am sure he'll keep continuing to work hard on that aspect of his game too."

Bereft of the services of Williamson who was on paternity leave in the second Test, New Zealand had Henry Nicholls stepping into the huge boots. The well had run dry since his fifty against Bangladesh in March 2019 and the southpaw was long overdue for some heavy compensation. He gleaned a top-score of 174 in a marathon effort oozing his typical flair and steadfastness, a bulldozer which for sure rang the death rattle in West Indies' ears. Latham, understandably, was chuffed to bits on how his men soldiered on in conditions that were not exactly a batsman's friend. 

"Clinical's the word to use again," he pointed out. "Put in to bat and putting in 460 on the board was outstanding. In these conditions to put a score like that was great and then we were able to do the job with the ball. To put a team back in twice (to follow-on) wasn't going to be easy with the demand on the bowlers' body but they kept coming and did the job with the ball.

"Whoever comes into the side we expect them to do their role to the best of their ability. This game was about trying to stand up and put up a performance and it's good that we were able to do it without Kane. The way Young played on the first day, to get 40 odd in those conditions was outstanding. The way he was able to get a partnership with Henry was great. It's great for our squad that we have depth that guys are able to come in and perform straight away."

With another series win in the bag, New Zealand now find themselves hot on their heels in the WTC points table, rollicking behind Australia and India. The conquest of Pakistan in their forthcoming assignment will render them a crystal-clear benefit amid the cutthroat environs. Latham, however, isn't counting his chickens before they hatch. "When you look too far ahead you can sometimes get caught out. Our focus will shift to Pakistan and whatever happens post that we'll assess," he articulated. "The goal at the start of the test championship was to get to that final, and if we play well we give ourselves a chance and it may be a possibility.''

"In our conditions, we certainly know how to play in these conditions which is great. Whatever team we face with, we are certainly willing to learn on the back of previous performances. Looking forward to Pakistan in a week's time - a new opposition, different challenges, so it's important to adapt. At the moment, we will enjoy this victory and then we will shift our focus towards Pakistan. I think the beauty of this group is we focus on each game at a time, each series at a time."

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