Rachin Ravindra ready to switch modes as Black Caps start test series against the West Indies

Sunday, 30 November 2025

What: First test, Black Caps v West Indies. Where: Hagley Oval, Christchurch. When: 11am Tuesday (day one of five), live on TVNZ Duke and TVNZ+.

A feast of white-ball cricket will usually lead to a tricky transition to test matches.

But Black Caps star Rachin Ravindra feels playing a bunch of T20Is and ODIs early in the New Zealand season will help the batters when they meet the West Indies in the opening game of the three-match series.

Ravindra is likely to bat at No.4 in the first test at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, and is fully aware of the demands in switching to red-ball cricket after New Zealand’s past 10 games have been white-ball affairs.

“We have to be quite adaptable and be able to be quite malleable between formats.

“I tend to find going from red-ball to white-ball a little bit easier because your positions and your core games are there, so it's an extension of that.

“In terms of T20s to red-ball, it's actually trying to not necessarily change your technique, but going back to the basics of what your batting is.”

Ravindra said he’s been spending plenty of time in the nets, trying to determine his game plan.

“What shots I want to put away early in my innings, and what shots I want to maintain throughout my innings - and I guess for me it's trying to come to grips of leaving the ball again and defending, because you don't really do a lot of that in white ball these days.

“But the wickets that we've been on recently in white-ball cricket, we've actually done that early.

“It's been quite a heavy assessment period with the ball nipping about, extra swing, a little bit of bounce. I think that's been quite good for our test game, because it's actually coming back to the basics a wee bit.

“So hopefully the transition won't be as drastic as it is usually.”

Ravindra struggled for runs in the T20Is against Australia, England and the Windies, but made two half-centuries in the ODIs versus the latter two sides.

“You always want to score more runs, but look, the game's not necessarily like that.

“I think you take it for what it is - I've been getting a few starts and you always want to go on with the team, but also understanding that these wickets have been slightly tough, so your job at the top of the order might look a little bit more different than what it is in different conditions.

“You always want more, but I think if you try to hold on to that too much, then you sort of get a bit dissatisfied and realise what you're actually doing it for, and that’s any sort of contribution to the team matters.”

Ravindra will be happy that pace bowler Matthew Forde, who proved troublesome to the Black Caps left-handed batters in particular, hasn’t been included in the touring test squad.

But he had plenty of praise for Jayden Seales.

“I think he is a hell of a test bowler.

“I think his swing and the nip and the energy he gets on the ball is fantastic. Kemar Roach is back after a while, and we know he's a bowler who's taken plenty of test wickets, and he's got a lot of experience around the world.”

The hosts at Hagley will welcome back Kane Williamson, who will play his first test in almost a year.

“Whenever you get to have Kane around, it's a huge positive for the team,” Ravindra said.

“Not just from a team and run-scoring point of view, but from a leadership and off-field perspective, he's a great guy to have as a mentor around the group. He knows his game so well, but also knows the environment so well.

“Any time he's in the group, I like to pick his brain - so I'll be doing that again.”

The test series - with the second match in Wellington and the final game in Mt Maunganui - will mark the start of New Zealand’s World Test Championship campaign.

Ravindra said the test squad - which made a successful start under new coach Rob Walter with a 2-0 sweep in Zimbabwe in August - is working to understand the style they want to play.

“We've been a successful test team for a period of time now, so it’s about continuing our good work in that.

“But for us it's more than the world championship, it's being able to play test cricket - which is the pinnacle of this game - and in front of our home crowds, which has come out and supported us a lot over the last few years.

“I think that's the most exciting part.”