Understrength Black Caps look for ring-in

New Zealand will take a depleted team but no shortage of confidence into the opening match of their West Indies tour.

The Black Caps have just 10 players available for the two-day game against a Jamaican selection team, with a local player being sought to make up the numbers.

Experienced opener Peter Fulton will captain a side missing regular skipper Brendon McCullum, who is involved in the Indian Premier League playoffs.

Also unavailable are batsman Kane Williamson, who has just completed his England county commitments with Yorkshire, and a trio of players eliminated this week from the IPL - Ross Taylor, Tim Southee and Corey Anderson.

It means offspinner Mark Craig will make his Black Caps debut in what is expected to be helpful conditions while reserve wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi is set to be promoted up the batting order.

Fulton says the game is a chance for several players, including himself, to push their claims for the first of three Tests starting in Kingston next week.

It is also an opportunity to maintain some momentum from their triumphant home summer in which they recorded Test series wins over the West Indies in December and India in February.

"The challenge now is to do it again overseas in conditions that won't be in our favour," he told NZ Newswire.

"It's a long time since the end of the India series. But the more you can win, I think it helps the confidence of the team and you saw that against India off the back of the West Indies series."

A second warm-up game starting on Sunday is a three-day affair.

Meanwhile, the West Indies are still reduced their squad from a training group of 20.

Doubt hangs over the availability of big-hitting opening batsman Chris Gayle, who told media this week he is seeking treatment for an injured back suffered during the World Twenty20 tournament in March.

He missed a handful of IPL games because of it and has sought medical help in Germany to ensure he is fit for what would be his 100th Test in Kingston.

Gayle was ruled out of the tour of New Zealand six months ago by a hamstring injury.

Black Caps team:

Peter Fulton (capt), Tom Latham, Hamish Rutherford, Luke Ronchi, BJ Watling, Jimmy Neesham, Ish Sodhi, Mark Craig, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult, one to be added

NZN
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