Big disruption at Wellington as Blair Tickner’s injury shocks New Zealand after a sharp West Indies start ends at 205 all out
Blair Tickner was taken to hospital after a dramatic moment on day one of the second Test between New Zealand and the West Indies at the Basin Reserve, Wellington, on December 10, 2025. The left-arm seamer dived to stop a boundary ball, spraining his left shoulder and forcing medics to rush to his side before he was wheeled away on a stretcher.
New Zealand’s seamers provided an uplifting response after a hesitant start. Tickner, who had been central to lifting the hosts from a slow outset, finished with figures of 4-32 from 16 overs, but his abrupt exit did little to hide the broader wobble in New Zealand’s bowling attack.
The West Indies began confidently after Tom Latham won the toss and put the visitors in. For the first hour, New Zealand did not strike, leaving the Caribbean side at 66-0. Tickner then made an immediate impact, snapping up two wickets in two overs to spark a New Zealand revival.
In the afternoon session, the visitors steadied to reach 175-4 at tea, only to lose six wickets for 30 runs as New Zealand’s attack tightened its grip. debutant Michael Rae supported Tickner well, finishing with 3-67 from 18 overs in his first Test, while Shai Hope led the West Indies with 48 off 80 balls, paired with 44 from John Campbell and 33 from Brandon King.
New Zealand had bragging rights to start the match with a few changes, naming two debutants—Mitchell Hay as wicketkeeper and Michael Rae as pace option—in place of regular gloveman Tom Blundell and Matt Henry. The West Indies also shuffled their lineup after Tagenarine Chanderpaul picked up an injury in training the day before, with John King promoted to open and Kavem Hodge coming in for Alick Athanaze, and Anderson Phillip replacing Johann Layne.
The previous match in Christchurch ended in a draw, and the tour resumes with the third and final Test beginning on December 18 in Mount Maunganui.
