The Christchurch Test against West Indies will mark the start of New Zealand's World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle and Kane Williamson's return to Test cricket. Williamson's previous Test was in December last year, and quite a lot has happened since.He has tapered back his international commitments, playing more games for others during this period. He has also retired from T20Is, and the entire cricketing landscape seems to be changing in New Zealand as well, with plans being developed for a T20 league in the country in 2027.

After the three-match Test series against West Indies, New Zealand fans may have to wait until late 2026 to watch Williamson in Test action at home again (if he continues to play on). This is a rare chance for them, then, as speculation around his international future grows.While New Zealand have won 11 ODI series in a row at home, their recent home Test record isn't as formidable. They have won just two of their last seven home series, with one of those coming against a second-string South Africa side.

A number of New Zealand players are currently injured - or working their way back from injuries - but despite that, they will start as favourites because West Indies have bigger problems to deal with. Both the Josephs - Alzarri and Shamar - are nursing injuries, and West Indies have sent an SOS to Kemar Roach, who hasn't played Test cricket since January. They have also called up Ojay Shields, a former high-school PE teacher. While Jayden Seales is available for this Test series, before joining the ILT20 in the UAE, there are serious concerns around West Indies' depth, or lack of it.

 John Campbell and Shai Hope offered a sliver of hope with the bat in decent batting conditions against India in Delhi, but can they do the job on potentially green pitches in New Zealand? Who should be their No. 3, Alick Athanaze or Brandon King? Can West Indies relieve Hope of wicketkeeping duties, trust Tevin Imlach, and find the right balance? Johann Layne or Anderson Phillip? The visitors find themselves with more questions than answers.Since leading New Zealand to a historic 3-0 sweep of India in India in November last year, Tom Latham has endured a difficult time.

He oversaw New Zealand's 2-1 defeat to England at home last December and then missed the Zimbabwe Test series with injury. His last Test hundred came in December 2022, but he has some recent form on his side, having compiled a half-century for Canterbury in the second round of the Plunket Shield. Prior to that, Latham had hit two fifties in three innings in the one-day Ford Trophy, which had kicked off New Zealand's domestic season Jayden Seales barely found support at the other end in India, and could face a similar scenario in New Zealand. But an on-song Seales can single-handedly carve up batting line-ups with his swing, bounce and control.

His battle against Williamson is one to watch out for - the two have never faced each other in international cricket before.With Williamson back, New Zealand will have to choose between Devon Conway and Will Young. On the bowling front, they might also have to choose between Jacob Duffy and Blair Tickner. Local boy Zak Foulkes addressed the media on the eve of the game, which was perhaps a hint that he may play. Daryl Mitchell, one of the mainstays of the batting line-up, has recovered from a groin injury that had kept him out of the last two ODIs against West Indies.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)