The West Indies team arrives in New Zealand shortly for a tour consisting of two tests, five ODI's, two first class warm-up games and their first experience of CricketMax.

West Indies are the more highly rated team in the test rankings, but this status may flatter them. The draw in their most recent test series, at home against Australia in March / April, was achieved because of two extraordinary innings by Brian Lara who saved not only his captaincy, but also his reputation as a batsman of genius.

New Zealand wish to prove that seventh place in both major rankings tables does not reflect recent steady progress. The 2 - 1 win in England was followed by a 1 - 0 defeat in India. This would have been a 1 - 1 draw had the Black Caps pressed home the advantage of bowling India out for 83 on the first morning of the series.

The result of the forthcoming contest may be decided as much by those not playing as those who are. West Indies are nursing Curtly Ambrose through the final stages of a great career and are not risking his injured elbow. Corey Colleymore, debutant fast bowler in the final test against Australia, has back problems.

There are worries about all four of New Zealand's first choice faster bowlers. Simon Doull (knee) and Geoff Allott (back) could not tour India and Dion Nash (back) had to return home early. Chris Cairns played despite a hamstring injury at the end of the tour. Doull will miss the series but there is better news of Nash and Allott who both expect to be fit for the first test in Hamilton beginning on 15 December.

If so New Zealand go into a series against the West Indies with a pace bowling advantage foe the first time ever. If Nash and Cairns can re-produce the intelligent, probing bowling that helped win the test series in England and if Allott can repeat his World cup form New Zealand will be favourites to take the series. Cairns can now be considered as the best allrounder outside South Africa and much will depend on him with bat and ball.

Media attention will focus on Courtney Walsh who needs twelve more victims to pass Kapil Dev as test cricket's leading wicket taker. Cynics would say that he will be helped to achieve his goal by the lack of fire-power in the rest of the West Indian attack. Surprisingly, Franklyn Rose's test career bowling average is marginally superior to that of Walsh, but injuries have restricted him to one test in the past year. Reon King has appeared in only one test while Pedro Collins and Mervyn Dillon have both failed to take previous opportunities to establish themselves.

The West Indian batting will be strengthened by the return of Shivnarine Chanderpaul to the test line-up after injury forced him to miss the series against Australia. His presence compensates for the absence of Carl Hooper who retired at the end of that series. Subject to a fitness test Jimmy Adams will also be in the party, but his experience will only be of value if his form improves ( two fifties in his last thirteen test innings). As he withdrew from the touring party to South Africa last year having severed tendons in the act of buttering an in-flight bread roll his contribution may also depend on the availability of finger food on lunch menus.

Adrian Griffith performed respectably in two appearances against Australia and has first claim on the position as Sherwin Campbell's opening partner. The queue for available middle order places is headed by Ricardo Powell, yet to debut in tests but with an established reputation as a stroke player in ODI's. Wavell Hinds and Darren Ganga will also compete for a slot.

Consistency among batsmen is a common need for both teams. Most of New Zealand's top six have had success in 1999, but they have rarely built a large team score. Only four centuries have been scored in twelve tests.

This table shows the records of New Zealand batsmen since the start of the series against India in New Zealand in December 1998:

                Tests   Innings NO      Total   Fifties Cent    Average
CD McMillan      9      16      3       612     4       1       47.08
GR Stead         3       5      0       223     2       0       44.60
NJ Astle        11      18      1       678     5       1       39.88
CL Cairns        9      15      1       509     5       1       36.36
SP Fleming       9      17      3       504     2       0       36.00
CM Spearman      3       6      1       170     2       0       34.00
MJ Horne        12      23      1       724     5       1       32.91
RG Twose         8      14      1       283     3       0       21.77
BA Young         2       4      0        81     1       0       20.25
AC Parore       12      19      0       327     2       0       17.21
MD Bell          8      15      1       221     1       0       15.79

McMillan convincingly emerges as the key batsman despite criticism of his shot selection and foot movement. Gary Stead's performance as a replacement against both South Africa and India should earn him selection as first choice. Spearman's place may depend upon what balance the selectors decide is right. Given Parore's lack of form with the bat they may go for the extra specialist batsman in which case Spearman will be in the team.

Daniel Vettori remains unchallenged as the country's only international class spinner. He has played 27 tests but will not be 21 until January.

Will the New Zealand pacemen avoid another outbreak of fast bowleritis? If so the home team should register their first series victory against the West Indies since 1980 when Michael Holding was so upset with the standard of the umpiring that he sent the stumps flying…..with his boot. However, their recent experience of one batting genius, Sachin Tendulkar, will have made the New Zealanders aware that they have to deal with Lara if they are to achieve their goal.

New Zealand retain favourite status for the one day series in the New Year. They reached the World Cup semi-finals while the West Indies failed to reach the Super Six. New Zealand performed creditably in losing the series in India 3 - 2. West Indies won a short tournament in Singapore but otherwise have recently collected only air points and passport stamps as they were beaten by both India and Pakistan in Toronto and failed to make the final of the most recent tournament in Sharjah.

Despite their decline in recent years a visit from the cricketers from the Caribbean is always keenly anticipated and will welcomed by Kiwi cricket fans as a splendid way of beginning the new millenium. The West Indians will be keenly aware that this is their first appearance since the death of former coach and great fast bowler Malcolm Marshall. His successor, Sir Vivian Richards is a proud man with much to be proud about. He will not tolerate anything less than total effort or commitment as a tribute to his late friend and team mate.