Jason Holder Photo: Photosport

Jason Holder

Bowling allrounder and captain

Tests: 28

Runs: 1211

Average: 30.27

Wickets: 52

Average: 37.30

Has played 20 of his 28 tests as skipper since the WICB added the test captaincy to the ODI role they'd given him at the ripe old age of 23.

He's 2.01m - 1cm shorter than Sam Whitelock - and is a hard-working all-rounder. He's not overly quick with the ball, but can be a handful and has 52 wickets at an average of 37.

He didn't do a lot in the domestic scene with the bat, but has grown in the test arena and scored one of his two hundreds in the side's last test, against Zimbabwe, earlier this month in Bulawayo. He was batting at numebr nine on that occasion, though he has the ticker and application to bat higher. He's hardly a world beater by himself, but appears to be the glue holding this side together and is improving.

West Indies batsman Kraigg Brathwaite Photo: Photosport

Kraigg Braithwaite

Opening bat, part time offspinner

Tests: 42

Runs: 4719

Average: 36.74

Wickets: 14

Average 52.85

Will be off to a much better start to the tour than last time he was in New Zealand, where a visa stuff-up meant he missed the first two Tests in the three match-series.

The 24-year-old is the side's equal most capped player with 42 and someone the Windies rely on at the top of the innings.

A big hundred helped his side win a test against England in August - one of only seven away Tests they've won since 2000. He can bowl a bit too as a back-up spinner. On New Zealand's greener decks, however, his job will be to bat time at the top of the innings and to protect a vastly inexperienced middle order.

Roston Chase Photo: PhotoSport

Roston Chase

Middle order bat and offspinner

Tests: 15

Runs: 966

Average: 40.25

Wickets: 27

Average: 48.85

Batted the entire fifth day in just his second test against a strong Indian spin attack to score an unbeaten 137 and save an improbable draw. Wasn't much of a bowler initially in first-class cricket, but the tall right-arm offspinner now has claims to be a genuine allrounder.

He also took five wickets in India's only innings in that second game to earn player of the match. He comfortably has the best average in the Windies' batting lineup and, like so many before him, has been seen as a future star. Didn't do overly well in the tests in England, but scored heavily in the warm-up matches showing he can score in the greener conditions.

He did score 49 in the warm-up match against New Zealand A and took a couple of wickets, too, including New Zealand A's top scorer, Todd Astle.

Shai Hope Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Shai Hope

Middle order bat

Tests: 15

Runs: 921

Average: 35.42

This headline writer's dream was given his first Test cap as a 21-year-old and though he struggled at the top level initially, he was backed and talked up by plenty in the Caribbean.

He delivered on that potential and hype when he scored hundreds in both innings of the West Indies' win at Headingley in August. It was the first time it had happened at the Leeds ground in 534 first-class matches. His youth and relative inexperience at the test level mean he's not as damaged as some in the set-up and his ability to score 147 in the first innings and 118no in a successful run chase in the second against a strong English bowling line-up proves he could be a thorn in the Black Caps' sides.

He seems to like Kiwi conditions too, scoring 110 in his team's sole warm-up match against New Zealand A.

Shannon Gabriel

Pace bowler

Wickets: 76

Average: 34.00

The leader of the West Indies pace attack doesn't cause quite the fear of some of his predecessors with the same title, but he's not to be ignored. He took 2-250 in his last tour to Aotearoa, but is a better bowler now. He's led the attack this season ahead of the more experienced Kemar Roach.

He took 25 wickets in six home and away tests against Pakistan in October last year and in April this year. He's unlikely to scare any of the Black Caps for pace, but can do a bit with it and will relish the more friendly conditions than home.

The genuine tailender has a highest first-class score of 20no. To put that in perspective, Chris Martin's was 25.

* Matt Richens has been a sports journalist for 12 years. He's still in love with Richie Richardson and wore a floppy hat in his own unspectacular playing career to be like Richardson rather than protect his bald head from the sun.