- By Namrata Vijay
- Wed, 10 Dec 2025 02:45 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
NZ vs WI, 2nd Test Day 1 Score: New Zealand pacer Blair Tickner was seen leaving the ground owing to a shoulder injury after registering brilliant figures of 4/32 in the ongoing Test against West Indies. Tickner had fallen on the ground as he tried to stop a ball at fine leg in his fourth Test match. He was lying on the ground motionless and was assisted by the team's doctor as he was lifted carefully on a stretcher.
The first Test match, which was held at Christchurch, ended in a draw.
Tickner had bowled brilliantly along with Michael Rae, who registered figures of 3/65 in his debut Test match and had helped the team skittle the visitors out for 205 runs in 75 overs. Openers Devon Conway and Tom Latham were seen struggling in the fag end of the day and took the hosts for 24/0 till stumps.
Also Read: 'Naughty Boys Nets': Ben Stokes And Co. Relax In Noosa After Losing Second Test In Brisbane
“I guess on the first day of a test match, if you've rolled the other team for 200 and you're 20 or so without loss, you're happy. It's been a really surreal couple of days for me since I knew I was going to play. Pinch me. Today, if someone asked me when you get comfortable bowling...you don't,” Tickner said at the time of the match.
His injury is another blow for the host, who are already playing this series without the services of players like Matt Henry, Will O'Rourke, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, and Kyle Jamieson. Mitchell Hay made his Test debut instead of wicketkeeper Tom Blundell, who is suffering from a hamstring strain.
Tickener's injury has added to the tragedies that he has faced in his career. When he made his Test debut, his father's house was destroyed owing to a cyclone. And when he played for Derbyshire, his wife Sarah was suffering from leukemia.
“Things are bigger than cricket," Tickner told reporters in the pre-match conference.
He got to know of Sarah's diagnosis when he was on the verge of making his Derbyshire debut. The ECB said that he can't be replaced at the last minute.
“So I had to play that game knowing my wife had leukemia, going back and forth to the hospital, and playing. Looking back, it’s crazy,” he added.
Sarah underwent chemotherapy when she was pregnant with their first child.
“If something went bad, I’d always be there. It was a journey for sure. She is still having monthly chemo, but she’s a strong woman. It’s been a big ordeal for the family, but we’re getting out the other side,” he added.
175 for 4 to 205-all out
The visitors entered this match riding high on confidence after a brilliant draw in the series opener. When the host had posted a mammoth target of 531, the West Indies batters played for more than 12 hours and had scored 457/6. Justin Greaves had scored an unbeaten knock of 202 runs, whereas Kemar Roach had scored a knock of 58 runs.
“The guys are very confident coming into this game,” Roston Chase was heard as saying at the time of the toss.
They did lose the toss but remained confident. John Campbell and Brandon King had stitched a partnership of 66 runs for the first wicket.
Till lunch, they were 92/2 and at tea 175/4. And when the surface deteriorated, bowlers like Tickner and Rae began attacking. The ball was moving faster and also started to deviate a little.
The visitors lost three wickets in quick succession in the last session, and the visitors were reeling at 184/7 and that's when Tickner got injured.
Glenn Phillip, who made a comeback to the national side after missing the series opener, took the wicket of Tevin Imlach and then the tailenders.
Shai Hope, who smashed a fifty in the series opener and then a ton in the second innings of the series opener, was the highest run scorer as he scored 48, along with Campbell's 44. Greaves got out after scoring 13, and Roach was dismissed for a duck.