New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori ... a world-class left-arm spinner. - File photos

TEST IRRELEVANTS Bangladesh aside, the coming, short two-Test series in the Shaky Isles between hosts New Zealand and the West Indies shapes as a battle for the long game's wooden spoon.

For what the International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings are worth, the Black Caps dropped past the idle Windies during their 2-0 loss in Australia and now have the dubious distinction of being the lowest rated of the 'established' Test nations in eighth place - once the comfortable nest of the Caribbean side.

The teams are tied on 81 points but the Windies win the tiebreaker for having played fewer Tests during the latest rating period, which started in August 2004.

All this means is that the winners of this brief series, which begins on Wednesday night (Ja time), will be out of the Test cellar and possibly moving on up to bigger and better things ... possibly.

Not much to inspire

Shivnarine Chanderpaul ... the 'Mr Reliable' of West Indian cricket.

There's not much to inspire faith in either of the sides, which have danced with mediocrity for a long time now on the Test stage.

Both teams have small talent pools to draw upon compared with the rest of the Test world but that's no excuse for such long periods of inadequacy, particularly when you look at the great players the sides have trotted out; from the likes of Glenn Turner, Richard Hadlee and Martin Crowe in Kiwiland to a plethora of West Indian greats that span all the way from George Headley to Brian Lara.

New Zealand's dive in the rankings has been exacerbated by the defection of a number of their leading players to the lucrative Indian Cricket League (ICL). Nathan Astle, Lou Vincent, Craig McMillan, Shane Bond, Hamish Marshall and Daryl Tuffey have all chosen the dollar over country and that's rocked the side to its core.

The too-early retirement of skipper Stephen Fleming has also left a major void which Daniel Vettori, one of the true world-class players in the side has had to fill.

His lieutenant, wicketkeeper/batsman Brendon McCullum, could also challenge for a place in any other Test side, but that's about it.

The West Indies have four players, skipper Chris Gayle, the indomitable Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Jerome Taylor, who could state similar cases and that slight edge in top-draw talent could give the tourists the decisive advantage.

The Australians, smarting from their series loss in India, exposed the brittle New Zealand batting line-up and the Kiwis also lacked the firepower to keep the pressure on the Aussie bats for any length of time.

Ross Taylor, McCullum and Jacob Oram, who missed the series across the Tasman through injury, are the keys to the side's batting but lack consistency. 'Two-Metre' Peter Fulton has height but is yet to back up his hype in the middle order while chubby Jesse Ryder is something of a diamond in the rough but looks to have Test class.

The steady Chris Martin, promising Tim Southee and Oram will perform the early bowling duties but the key to the attack remains the wily left-arm spin skills of the skipper. Unfortunately, for the Kiwis, Vettori is too often called upon to constrain a team rather than attack it. An interesting selection could be offspinner Jeetan Patel, but the New Zealand selectors have shown great reluctance to pick two spinners in the same Test side.

Rich vein of form

If the tourists can handle the swinging ball and keep Vettori at bay they should be able to put up more than competitive totals.

Gayle has hit a rich vein of form, racking up two centuries in the recent three-match one-day series against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi, while Chanderpaul is the reigning ICC Test Cricketer of the Year and is in the best form of his life.

Ramnaresh Sarwan has only played three Tests against New Zealand for limited returns but he preens himself on weak attacks and should get among the runs along with the precocious Xavier Marshall.

While not having a spinner of the class of Vettori, the West Indies would appear to have a slight edge in the bowling department with genuine quicks Jerome Taylor and Fidel Edwards along with Daren Powell utilising the 'new cherry'.

Sulieman Benn, another left-arm spinner, and Gayle provide the slow bowling options.

New Zealand, for many years, played better than the sum of their parts but that cannot be said now.

The West Indies, for many years, have flattered to deceive and that can still be said now.

However, if this series is decided by skill and talent alone, and that's a huge IF, the Windies should win and consolidate their No. 7 ranking.

Feedback: tym.glaser@gleanerjm.com

NEW ZEALAND PLAYER PROFILES

DANIEL VETTORI

Age: 29

Province: Northern Districts

LHB, SLA

THE WORLD-class left-arm spinner has inherited the captaincy of the side at a time of great flux with key players defecting to the lucrative Indian Cricket League (ICL).

The skipper is only 29 and has been playing at the highest levels of the game for more than a decade now. Vettori has claimed 276 wickets in his 87 Tests at an average of 33.5. Due to the relative weakness of the team, he is often forced to bowl defensively and curb runs rather than attack the batsmen. He is not a prodigious turner of the ball but bowls intelligently with subtle changes of pace, line, length and spin.

A useful lower-order batsman who has two centuries and 18 half centuries to his name, Vettori is still growing into the captaincy role. One of the few world-class players in the side.

AARON REDMOND

Age: 29

Province: Canterbury

RHB

Australian-born opener who has yet to fully establish himself in the Black Caps' line-up. Averages 23 from his 14 Test innings to date with a top score of 83 against Australia in the team's most recent Test in Adelaide.

JAMIE HOW

Age: 27

Province: Central Districts

RHB

Like fellow opener Redmond, more a compiler of runs than a dasher who is also relatively new to the Test scene with only 16 matches under his belt. Is yet to make a century (highest score 92) and averages only 23.62.

JESSE RYDER

Age: 24

Province: Wellington

LHB, RM

Chunky, hard-hitting lefthander who had gained a reputation as a bit of a "bad boy" for lapses of discipline and off-field behaviour. Has played only four Tests but has shown signs that he could become a mainstay of the batting order if he can keep his weight and attitude in check. Yet to make a century and averages only 34.14, but that should climb. Useful medium pacer when required.

ROSS TAYLOR

Age: 24

Province: Central Districts

RHB

The class batsman in the line-up but wildly inconsistent. Taylor has more given names (four - Luteru Ross Poutoa Lote) than Test centuries (two). A superb striker of the ball and can take on any attack when the mood takes him. Unfortunately for the Kiwis, that's not often enough as he averages only 36.22 from his 11 Tests.

PETER FULTON

Age: 29

Province: Canterbury

RHB, RM

'Two-metre Peter' is trying to lock down a spot in the New Zealand middle order. The tall righthander has only one half century to his name in eight Tests and averages a paltry 24.72 but boasts a triple ton for Canterbury.

DANIEL FLYNN

Age: 23

Province: Northern Districts

LHB

Another newcomer to the fold who has scratched around for 282 runs in 12 Test innings at a fair average of 35.25. Gets starts but is yet to convert them into even a half century. Career lowlight: having two teeth knocked out by a bouncer from England's James Anderson at Old Trafford.

BRENDON MCCULLUM

Age: 27

Province: Otago

RHB, WK

The vice-captain is, along with skipper Vettori, one of the few players wearing a black cap that could make almost any other Test side in the world. A useful gloveman who is best known for his batting pyrotechnics. Can slaughter any attack in any version of the game when the whim takes him. Has two centuries under his belt and more are likely to come. His average of 31.91 from 39 Tests requires some work. Can open but is better suited in the middle order in Tests due to his keeping duties.

TIM SOUTHEE

Age: 19

Province: Northern Districts

RHB, RMF

A highly-promising allrounder who could be a mainstay of the team for years to come and a potential captain to boot. A useful swing bowler who claimed 5-55 against England in his Test debut earlier this year in Napier. Can also wield the willow and has a top score of 77 not out.

IAIN O'BRIEN

Age: 32

Province: Wellington

RFM

Reasonably quick right-armer whose figures of 35 wickets from 12 Tests at an average of 28.51 is probably a little flattering. Could find it hard to break into the side for this series.

CHRIS MARTIN

Age: 33

Province: Canterbury

RFM

The pace spearhead of the Kiwi attack has picked up 146 wickets from his 45 Tests at 33.55. A workhorse who nags away at batsmen rather than blasting them out. Dreadful batsman.

JEETAN PATEL

Age: 28

Province: Wellington

OB

More than handy offspinner who is struggling to convince selectors that it's okay to pick two spinners in the side. Has only played five Tests for 16 wickets at a not-too-shabby 35.56. Good fielder.

KYLE MILLS

Age: 29

Province: Auckland

RFM

Injury-plagued fast medium bowler who seems better suited to shorter versions of the game than Tests. Has taken 40 wickets in his 16 Tests at a reasonable 30.02.

MARK GILLESPIE

Age: 29

Province: Wellington

RFM

Another better suited to ODIs and 20/20s. Has played only two Tests for NZ but has picked up 11 wickets at a good rate of 25.27.

JACOB ORAM

Age: 30

Province: Central Districts

LHB, RFM

The tall allrounder is set to return to the side after missing the recent Australia Test series with a broken finger. His powerful middle-order hitting was sorely missed against the world's No. 1-ranked team, as was his tricky to deal with medium-fast bowling. Has five Test tons under his belt (average 37.04) to go along with 60 wickets. A key component of the side and a legitimate match-winner.

- Tym Glaser

WEST INDIES PLAYER PROFILES

CHRISTOPHER GAYLE

Age: 29

Country: Jamaica

LHB, OB

HE IS one of the world's most destructive batsmen and although he has failed to score a Test century in almost four years, the West Indies skipper cannot be taken lightly.

Gayle's last century - 105 against England at the Oval in 2004, came 27 Test matches ago, but he could regain his brutal form at any time.

Tall and imposing at the crease, he loves to carve through the covers off either foot and has the ability to decimate the figures of even the thriftiest of bowlers.

His 79-ball century at Cape Town in January 2004 was typical of his no-holds-barred approach.

In the disastrous 2005-06 tour of New Zealand, he led the batting in the three-Test series, piling up 235 runs while no other West Indian touched the 200-run mark.

Overall, Gayle, in 73 matches, has scored 4,908 runs with a top score of 317, at 38.12.

XAVIER MARSHALL

Age: 22

Country: Jamaica

RHB

Described as a player with extreme talent, in the field and with the bat, Marshall should fancy his chances against New Zealand.

Since making his Test debut against Sri Lanka in 2005, Marshall has promised so much but has one ODI century and a top score of 85 in Tests to show for his efforts to date. He has scored 199 runs in four Tests at 24.87 and 344 in ODIs at 18.10.

RAMNARESH SARWAN

Age: 28

Country: Guyana

RHB

Seen as one of the team's most reliable batsmen, Sarwan, who possesses a reasonable Test average of 40.40, should once again be a force to reckon with in New Zealand.

Against New Zealand Sarwan may not have the best average, 24.60 from three Test matches, but his experience, which has brought him 11 centuries and 30 fifties from 72 matches, should be some comfort to the team.

SHIVNARINE CHANDERPAUL

Age: 34

Country: Guyana

LHB

Dubbed the'Mr. Reliable' of West Indies cricket, Chanderpaul, a veteran of 112 Test matches, is the man the Kiwis must get out.

Though he has only scored 35.13 runs per innings against New Zealand, Chanderpaul, the ICC Cricketer of the Year - 2008 - remains a danger man.

He is yet to score a century against the Black Caps but not even his greatest detractors would bet against it this time. He could add to his 19 Test centuries.

JEROME TAYLOR

Age: 24

Country: Jamaica

RF

Taylor, the West Indies main strike weapon over the past two years, is fast developing into a world-class pacer.

After an explosive first season -2003 - for Jamaica, Taylor was brought into the West Indies team with little experience.

Although he was pegged back by a series of injuries, he has now taken up the mantle left behind by Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose.

His lone match against New Zealand, away in 2006, produced only one wicket, but his 63 wickets from 20 Tests should see him strike more often this time around.

DENESH RAMDIN

Age: 23

Country: Trinidad & Tobago

WK

Touted as the next Jeff Dujon of wicketkeeping, Ramdin, despite apparently great potential, has yet to deliver consistently.

Apart from his gritty innings of 82 not out, which held up India's victory at Sabina Park in 2006, his batting is patchy.

He has a small average of 21.65 from 27 Tests.

SULIEMAN BENN

Age: 27

Country: Barbados

SLA

Benn has just two Test matches under his belt to take into this series.

Those came against Sri Lanka after he topped the wicket charts for Barbados with 22 wickets in the 2007-08 Carib Beer Series.

He has, over the years, been a regular in the Barbados team and once represented the West Indies B.

FIDEL EDWARDS

Age: 26

Country: Barbados

RF

Remembered as a bowler first picked out by Brian Lara in the nets, Edwards made a huge statement on his Test debut against Sri Lanka with five wickets (5-36) at Sabina Park in 2003.

He added five (5-133) in his first overseas Test against Zimbabwe, but he has been in and out of the team since.

He has 11 wickets in two Tests against New Zealand and a best haul of 5-36.

LIONEL BAKER

Age: 24

Country: Montserrat

RF

Right-arm fast bowler Baker, yet to play a Test, has already made history by becoming the first player from Montserrat to play international cricket when he suited up against Pakistan.

In 11 first-class matches, Baker, a holder of a British passport, has taken only 18 wickets at 46.50.

His international selection messed up the deal he had signed to join Leicestershire next year.

Sewnarine Chattergoon

Age: 27

Country: Guyana

LHB

Chattergoon who was added to the West Indies Test squad for their two-Test series against Sri Lanka in March, looks certain to be Christopher Gayle's partner at the top of the innings.

He had a fairly good run for West Indies A in the home series against England A in 2005-06. He scored 107 in the second four-day match and 81 in the first one-day game before he was sidelined by injury.

CARLTON BAUGH

Age: 26

Country: Jamaica

WK

He broke into the West Indies squad for the 2002-03 series against Australia but is yet to stamp his class at the international level.

Although he had a below par 2007-08 domestic season, Baugh impressed with a century against the touring Australians and was again reinstated to the ODI side for the tri-series in Canada.

Again, Baugh, who scored 196 runs at a average of 19.60, if given the chance to play, would want to rebuild.

KEMAR ROACH

Age: 20

Country: Barbados

RF

Roach was part of the Barbados and West Indies Under-19 teams before being called up to West Indies' third Test squad against Australia in his hometown.

He is yet to play Test cricket but made his international debut in the ODI tri-series in Canada.

Sporting career-best figures of 5-72 against Guyana in first-class cricket, Roach faces a real test in New Zealand.

LEON JOHNSON

Age: 21

Country: Guyana

LHB

Johnson, another of the uncapped left-handed batsmen in the squad, made his first-class debut for Guyana at 16. He played two matches that season but then had to wait four years for his next opportunity.

During that time he captained the West Indies at the Under-19 World Cup in 2005-06.

On his return to senior regional cricket, in 2007-08, Johnson had a solid Carib Beer Series and scored 427 runs at 42.70, which triggered his arrival in West Indies cricket.

BRENDAN NASH

Age: 30

Country: Jamaica

LHB

Nash an Australian by birth, played for Queensland and stamped himself as a first-class player with 157 against South Australia and 96 in the team's Pura Cup final win over Tasmania in 2001-02.

He followed that up the next season with 176 against New South Wales.

Having failed to make the Australian team, Nash journeyed to Jamaica, the birth place of his father, and in no time stamped his class for his adopted country.

DAREN POWELL

Age: 30

Country: Jamaica

RMF

POWELL, WHO began his playing days as a No. 3 batsman and offspinner, is the only Jamaican on the West Indies team, outside of Australian Brendan Nash, not to come through the youth programme.

After making his debut against New Zealand in 2002, then gearing up against India and Bangladesh in the same year for 12 wickets in four matches, Powell was overlooked until 2005.

Since returning to the fold, Powell has developed into one of the region's top fast bowlers. In 30 Test matches Powell has claimed 73 wickets at 47.28 - Anthony Foster

December 2008

Wed 11 - Sun 14: First Test -- New Zealand vs West Indies, University Oval, Dunedin.

Thu 18 - Mon 22: Second Test - New Zealand vs West Indies, McLean Park, Napier.

Thu 25: First Twenty20 International - New Zealand vs West Indies, Eden Park, Auckland.

Sat 27: Second Twenty20 International - New Zealand vs West Indies, Seddon Park, Hamilton.

Tue 30: First ODI - New Zealand vs West Indies, Queenstown Events Centre.

January 2009

Fri 2: Second ODI - New Zealand vs West Indies, AMI Stadium, Christchurch.

Tue 6: Third ODI - New Zealand vs West Indies, Westpac Stadium, Wellington.

Fri 9: Fourth ODI - New Zealand vs West Indies, Eden Park, Auckland.

Mon 12: Fifth ODI - New Zealand vs West Indies, McLean Park, Napier.

All dates Jamaican