Former New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson's long-awaited return to Test cricket was the main story of the opening day at Hagley Oval. Even though New Zealand ended the rain-hit day on 231 for 9, the real highlight for many fans was watching the World Test Championship (WTC) final 2021 winning captain walk out in whites again after almost a year away from red-ball cricket.
West Indies gets early breakthrough
After being asked to bat, New Zealand were off to a bad start as the West Indies' Kemar Roach, playing his first Test since early 2025, struck in his very first over when Devon Conway edged one to second slip for a duck. After the early breakthrough, Williamson joined Tom Latham for the big total.
Rain played spoilsport
Rain played the spoilsport after the first few overs in the morning session, which forced a long delay. By lunch, New Zealand managed to score 17 runs from just over ten overs. Once play resumed, Williamson started to look more like his old self. He guided the ball late, defended softly, and picked off scoring opportunities whenever the bowlers strayed. He even took on Johann Layne with two boundaries in quick succession to get his momentum back.
Kane Williamson creates history
Williamson also reached a personal milestone on his comeback. With just 7 runs, he surpassed Hashim Amla on the all-time Test run-scoring list, moving up to 9305 career runs. That puts him 16th in the tally of the highest run-getters in the longest format of the game. With the 10,000-run mark now within touching distance, he’s closing in on becoming the first New Zealander ever to reach that landmark. Among active players, only Joe Root and Steve Smith have more Test runs than him, which shows the class and longevity he has carried through his career.
Even so, the conditions never eased up. Debutant Ojay Shields struggled with overstepping early on, even bowling Williamson with a no-ball. Justin Greaves struck the biggest blow when he squared Williamson up and had him caught at second slip. That wicket opened the door, and New Zealand soon slipped from a strong position to 148 for 6.
Michael Bracewell and Nathan Smith keep things in New Zealand's favour
Michael Bracewell and Nathan Smith then stepped up with a fighting 52-run stand for the seventh wicket. Bracewell played the aggressor, while Smith showed patience and resilience. Their partnership kept New Zealand afloat until Chase broke through by removing Smith with a catch at short midwicket.
From there, New Zealand’s tail tried to scrap for every run. Bracewell fell for 47 after mistiming a pull, a Roach bouncer undid Matt Henry, and Jacob Duffy was hit on the helmet a couple of balls later. With the light fading, the umpires decided enough was enough, bringing an early end to the day.
Brief scores: New Zealand 231 for 9 (Williamson 52, Bracewell 47, Shields 2-34, Greaves 2-35) vs West Indies