While the Bay Oval is in its early days as a test match venue, with the Caribbean sides' visit number six on the test tally, the wicket has proved a happy hunting ground for the Black Cap batters.
 
The Black Caps could enter the test encounter with as many as five batsmen who have reached the magical three-figure score at the Blake Park ground.
 
Legendary Black Cap batsman, Kane Williamson, has posted three centuries in the city where he grew up. 

 

In just the second test at the Bay Oval, Williamson belted his highest score at his home ground, with 129 runs in the Black Caps' first innings against Pakistan.
 
South Africa's visit in February 2024 saw the Western Bay world super-star batsmen become just the fifth New Zealander to score a century in both innings. Williamson worked his way to 118 in his first turn at bat, and came back hard again with 109 in his second trip to the Bay Oval wicket block.
 
Rachin Ravindra will also stand in the top shelf of Black Cap batting history, after the South African visit, following a marathon innings that produced 240 runs before dismissal. His 530 minutes at the crease saw Ravindra face 240 balls, including 26 fours and 3 sixes. 
 
A BJ Watling double century against England in November 2019 was accompanied by a century from Mitchell Santner. Santner’s three Bay Oval test appearances have produced a healthy average of 51.00.
 
Devon Conway was the shining light in the Black Cap unit that was upset by Bangladesh in Test Three at the Bay Oval in the 2021/22 cricket season. His 122 runs were a defiant knock in a match where the New Zealand side were outgunned by the  Bangladesh visitors.
 
Tom Blundell scored a century with England's second test match appointment at the Bay Oval in February 2023. Blundell posted a hard-fought 138 runs before being caught and bowled by James Anderson. Batting at seven, the Kiwi keeper faced 181 balls with nineteen 4's and one big heave over the boundary markers.
 
Central Districts batsman Will Young has just two innings in test match action at the Bay Oval, in which he proved adept in his visits to the middle. In his first visit to the crease against Bangladesh, he posted 54, before top scoring with 69 from the Black Caps' total of 169 all out, in their second turn at bat. He finished the match with a sterling average of 60.50.
 
While Daryl Mitchell was on the injury list for the first test with Windies, an extremely handy average of 51.00 from four innings at the Western Bay ground, would make him a welcome addition to the team if he was available for selection for the third test in the three-match series.

Bay Oval Test Centuries (9)

205 | BJ Watling (New Zealand v England) 2019/20
126 | MJ Santner (New Zealand v England) 2019/20
129 | KS Williamson (New Zealand v Pakistan) 2020/21
102 | F Alam (Pakistan v New Zealand) 2020/21
122 | DP Conway (New Zealand v Bangladesh) 2021/22
138 | TA Blundell (New Zealand v England) 22022/23
240 | R Ravindra (New Zealand v South Africa) 2023/24
118 | KS Williamson (New Zealand v South Africa)  2023/24
109 | KS Williamson (New Zealand v South Africa) 2023/24

Tegel Test Series New Zealand v West Indies

 

December 18-22 | ICC Test Match | Black Caps v West Indies | 11am Start