Andrew Alderson: Newstalk ZB sports reporter on the Black Caps' performance against the West Indies

A huge day for the Black Caps as they opted to bat first in the third and final cricket test match against the West Indies at the Bay Oval today.

Tom Latham and Devon Conway put on an absolute clinic registering the second highest opening wicket partnership in Black Caps history at 323 - before Latham was dismissed. 

Conway and night watchman Jacob Duffy saw out the day with New Zealand in control at 334-1.

Newstalk ZB sport news reader Andrew Alderson was at the oval, and he joined D'Arcy to give a day one update. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talk ZEDB.

Speaker 2 (00:13):
It's six and a half minutes to eight. Andrew Alison,
cricket reporter Extraordinary Air Extraordinary Extraordinary. It joins us now
from the Bay over after day one of the third tests.
He's been following the tests around like a bad smell, hello, Andrew.

Speaker 3 (00:29):
Or like a decent cologne as to give you out
how you want to look at nice.

Speaker 2 (00:34):
A cologne that maybe like was given away for the
Secret Santa Head that interview as well. Yes, hey, I
could summarize today's play in a couple of words, but
I think you'd be slightly more eloquent. What's happened?

Speaker 3 (00:44):
Well, I think I care too much for it. I mean,
it's just basically it revolves around two names, isn't it.
Devin Conway and Tom Latham. They've got this New Zealand's
second highest opening stand with three hundred and twenty three,
second to just Terry Jarvis and Glen Tenna's three eighty
seven and Guyanabeck in nineteen seventy two, and they've effectively
dominated the day. I mean, I think brave call from

(01:05):
Tom Latham was a greenish looking pitch. He's decided to bat.
They've played Ajs Patel hip hip, hooray at last, especially
spinner in the New Zealand lineup, and with potential bowling
into fourth innings footmarks if they need the fourth innings.
And I just think it was it was outstanding leadership
from him and then Devin Conway joined him, and they
just played judiciously dusk. They ran quick singles, they worked

(01:28):
the ball off their hip, off their legs, they played
the percentages and it was just they just wore the
West Indies down and then effectively took advantage of that
in the middle session and beyond. And I think too,
just to add to that chanceless up until two hundred
and fifty three when Nathan was one hundred and four,
So that says something about the discipline that they showed

(01:51):
out in the middle of the Western East bowling wasn't
particularly penetrative. They asked a couple of questions early, but
really the New Zealanders dominating a day with that outstanding
batting showing.

Speaker 2 (02:01):
I believe it's the first time in many, many, many,
many many years that the New Zealand captain's won the
toss and actually put them New Zealand in to start with.
It just doesn't happen, does it.

Speaker 3 (02:12):
Well, it doesn't happen often, Well not when they win
the Test anyway. And yeah, I think you'd have to
go back to two thousand and eight for New Zealand
captain to win the toss bat and win the Test,
I think as Daniel Vettori against England at Hamilton. So
there you go. That's the rarity of the move. But
I think it was the right decision. I mean, you
look at it. It had already dried out. I mean,
I think it'll bake to a fairly golden hue by days,

(02:36):
you know, three four and beyond. And I think that
was the right cause already drying out. Some talk about rain,
recent rain around the mountain and they have plenty which
may have I guess freshened up the block and that
might have given Christian Clark a chance of debuting. But
I'm police they've played the AJS battel first Test at
home since February twenty twenty. We haven't actually seen him

(02:57):
in action yet, but I think it gives them the
best opportunity, especially if they can put what looks to
be an enormous total on the board if they go
back to their potential, and.

Speaker 2 (03:06):
You'll get his first wicket in New Zealand as a
Test player, to be wonderful Andrew Ortison, thanks very much
for that. Try and enjoy your next few days. I'm
sure you will. Thanks for your time, Lovely Gus.

Speaker 1 (03:17):
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