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West Indies and New Zealand begin their five match ODI series at Providence Stadium in Guyana on Saturday, July 11, with both teams already looking ahead to the 2027 World Cup in South Africa. In this preview you will find the match details, squads, pitch report and two WI vs NZ fantasy team options, one safe and one for grand leagues.
New Zealand have won the last five ODIs between these teams, including a 3 0 sweep at home in November 2025. But the Caribbean is a different question. West Indies have won their last four home ODI series since 2023, and New Zealand arrive with seven frontline players missing and a heavily rotated squad.
For Indian viewers, the match starts at 12.00 AM IST, midnight going into Sunday, July 12. The 2.30 PM local start in Guyana means this is a day night ODI. The series will be streamed on FanCode in India, with no TV broadcast.
WI vs NZ 1st ODI Match Details
Match: West Indies vs New Zealand, 1st ODI, New Zealand tour of West Indies 2026
Date: Saturday, July 11, 2026
Time: 12.00 AM IST (night of July 11 into July 12) | 2.30 PM local time in Guyana
Venue: Providence Stadium, Guyana
Streaming in India: FanCode
Series: 1st of 5 ODIs
WI vs NZ 2026 Series Schedule
1st ODI: July 11, Providence Stadium, Guyana
2nd ODI: July 13, Providence Stadium, Guyana
3rd ODI: July 16, Providence Stadium, Guyana
4th ODI: July 19, Kensington Oval, Barbados
5th ODI: July 21, Kensington Oval, Barbados
All three Guyana matches start at 2.30 PM local time, which is 12.00 AM IST. The tour was originally planned as three ODIs and three T20Is, but the two boards changed it to five ODIs, with Guyana hosting the first leg and Barbados closing the series.
West Indies: Home Comfort And A Teenage Wrist Spinner
Shai Hope leads a West Indies squad that keeps the core of the group that played Sri Lanka at home last month, a series they lost 1 0. That result stung, and coach Daren Sammy has called every series from here to the 2027 World Cup a must win situation for his side.
The biggest talking point is 19 year old left arm wrist spinner Vitel Lawes, who gets his maiden senior call up. Lawes was named in the Team of the Tournament at this year’s Under 19 World Cup, where he took 10 wickets and bowled the most dot balls in the competition. He has never played a professional match, so West Indies have added spin coach Nikita Miller to the support staff for the Guyana leg to work with him.
Two absences matter. Shimron Hetmyer was given clearance to stay with Seattle Orcas in Major League Cricket, so the middle order loses its biggest hitter. And all rounder Shamar Springer withdrew from the series after the passing of his mother, with Keemo Paul returning as his replacement.
The strength of this side is the attack. Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph and Jayden Seales give Hope three genuine quicks, and Gudakesh Motie is close to unplayable at Providence, his home ground, where the pitch grips and turns in the middle overs.
New Zealand: Number 2 In The World, But Barely Recognisable
This has been a strange year for New Zealand. They reached the T20 World Cup final in March, then won a Test series in England 2 1 in June after coming from behind. Yet their last ODI assignment ended in a 2 1 series defeat in Bangladesh in April, and the squad in the Caribbean is nothing like full strength.
Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry and Will O’Rourke are all rested on workload grounds, Devon Conway is away for family reasons, Rachin Ravindra is at Major League Cricket with Washington Freedom, and Ben Sears has been ruled out injured, with left armer Ben Lister called in as his replacement.
Captain Mitchell Santner returns after missing the Bangladesh tour, and the experienced spine of Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Mark Chapman and Michael Bracewell is intact. Around them, this series is an audition. Uncapped seamer Matthew Fisher could debut, and Nick Kelly, Dean Foxcroft, Jayden Lennox and Mitch Hay are all pushing for World Cup spots. Jacob Duffy, back in the squad, leads the pace attack with Nathan Smith.
Daryl Mitchell is the man in form against this opponent. He made 119 in Christchurch when these teams last met, and Santner himself finished that second ODI with 34 off 15 to seal a chase.
WI vs NZ Head To Head Record
This is one of the closest rivalries in ODI cricket. In 71 matches, New Zealand have won 33 and West Indies 31, with 7 ending in no result. The recent record is one sided though. New Zealand have won the last five ODIs between the teams, including the 3 0 sweep in November 2025, when Shai Hope’s unbeaten 109 off 69 balls in Napier still ended on the losing side.
West Indies can lean on their home record instead. They have not lost a home ODI series since 2023.
Providence Stadium Pitch Report
Providence is a slow, spin friendly ground where the average first innings score in ODIs is 216. The new ball does a little for the quicks early, but the pitch grips as the innings goes on, and spinners control the middle overs. Batters who take time to settle get rewarded, while anyone forcing the pace early tends to get caught in the ring.
That profile suits both teams’ spin plans. Motie has thrived here, Chase offers a second spin option, and Lawes may debut on the most helpful surface in the Caribbean. For New Zealand, Santner and Bracewell will feel right at home. A total around 230 to 250 should be a strong score, and the 2.30 PM start means the team batting second deals with slightly easier evening conditions.
Guyana Weather Report For WI vs NZ
The forecast for Saturday in Guyana is mostly clear with only a slight chance of a passing shower. July is part of the wet season in Georgetown, so a brief interruption cannot be ruled out, but a full match is expected.
Where To Watch WI vs NZ 1st ODI: TV And Live Streaming Worldwide
India: FanCode app and website from 12.00 AM IST. There is no TV broadcast in India.
Caribbean: The match starts at 2.30 PM local time in Guyana (1.30 PM in Jamaica).
New Zealand: The match starts at 6.30 AM on Sunday morning New Zealand time.
UK: The match starts at 7.30 PM UK time on Saturday.
Pakistan: Streaming on Tapmad.
WI vs NZ Probable Playing XIs
West Indies (probable): John Campbell, Ackeem Auguste, Keacy Carty, Shai Hope (c, wk), Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, Justin Greaves, Matthew Forde, Gudakesh Motie, Alzarri Joseph, Jayden Seales
Shamar Joseph competes with Forde for a pace spot, Keemo Paul adds an all round option, and the temptation to hand Vitel Lawes a debut on a Providence turner will be real.
New Zealand (probable): Will Young, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Tom Latham (wk), Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Nathan Smith, Jacob Duffy, Matthew Fisher, Ben Lister
Nick Kelly and Dean Foxcroft are the batting alternatives, Kristian Clarke is the other pace option, and Fisher would be making his international debut.
WI vs NZ Full Squads
West Indies: Shai Hope (c, wk), Ackeem Auguste, John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Justin Greaves, Amir Jangoo (wk), Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Vitel Lawes, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales
New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (c), Tom Latham (wk), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Kristian Clarke, Jacob Duffy, Matthew Fisher, Dean Foxcroft, Mitch Hay, Nick Kelly, Jayden Lennox, Ben Lister, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Nathan Smith, Will Young
Key Player Battles
Shai Hope vs Mitchell Santner: Hope is the best ODI batter on either side and plays spin as well as anyone in the world game. Santner’s accuracy through the middle overs on a gripping pitch is exactly the challenge that will decide how big Hope goes.
Daryl Mitchell vs Gudakesh Motie: Mitchell attacks spin and made a hundred against these bowlers in November. Motie at Providence is a different animal, and this contest in the middle overs could decide the match.
Will Young vs Alzarri Joseph: Young holds the New Zealand top order together in Conway’s absence, and Alzarri with a new ball in humid afternoon conditions is the hosts’ best chance of early damage.
WI vs NZ Fantasy Team (Small Leagues)
Wicketkeeper: Shai Hope (C)
Batters: Daryl Mitchell (VC), Will Young, Keacy Carty
All Rounders: Mitchell Santner, Roston Chase, Michael Bracewell
Bowlers: Gudakesh Motie, Jayden Seales, Jacob Duffy, Alzarri Joseph
Hope is the captain pick. He scored an unbeaten 109 off 69 the last time these teams met, he is at home, and he keeps wicket, which adds catching and stumping points. Mitchell is the vice captain after his 119 in the same series and his strong record against spin. The three spinning all rounders are not an accident, since Providence rewards exactly this type of player, and all three bat in the top eight.
WI vs NZ Fantasy Team (Grand Leagues)
For grand leagues, this second WI vs NZ fantasy team leaves out Hope and Mitchell, the two most owned players in this match.
Wicketkeeper: Tom Latham
Batters: Sherfane Rutherford, Mark Chapman, John Campbell, Henry Nicholls
All Rounders: Mitchell Santner (VC), Justin Greaves, Michael Bracewell
Bowlers: Gudakesh Motie (C), Nathan Smith, Shamar Joseph
Motie as captain is the differential call. This is his home ground, the pitch turns, and New Zealand’s inexperienced middle order has to face him with the game in the balance. Santner is the vice captain because he offers overs, wickets, lower order runs and captaincy points sense on a similar surface. Rutherford takes on the finishing job that Hetmyer left behind, Chapman quietly scores against West Indies every time these sides meet, and Latham is a cheaper keeper option than Hope who bats in the top six. Shamar Joseph is the punt, since he may not even play, but if he does, his pace on a slow pitch is the kind of shock weapon that wins grand leagues.
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WI vs NZ Match Prediction
New Zealand are ranked second in the world and have won the last five meetings, but the gap between the teams shrinks fast in the Caribbean. West Indies have not lost a home ODI series in three years, they have picked a spin attack made for Providence, and New Zealand’s batting has a new look with Conway missing and several fringe players auditioning. New Zealand’s experienced spine of Santner, Mitchell, Latham and Bracewell still makes them slight favourites, but a home win in the opener would surprise nobody, and this series looks far closer than the rankings suggest.
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FAQs
Q. When is the WI vs NZ 1st ODI?
A. The 1st ODI will be played on Saturday, July 11 at Providence Stadium in Guyana, starting at 2.30 PM local time, which is 12.00 AM IST on the night of July 11 going into July 12.
Q. Where can I watch WI vs NZ 1st ODI live in India?
A. The match will be streamed live on the FanCode app and website in India. There is no TV broadcast in India for this series.
Q. Is Shimron Hetmyer playing in the WI vs NZ ODI series?
A. No. Hetmyer was given clearance by Cricket West Indies to continue playing for Seattle Orcas in Major League Cricket, so he is not part of the ODI squad.
Q. Who is Vitel Lawes?
A. Vitel Lawes is a 19 year old left arm wrist spinner who received his maiden West Indies call up for this series. He took 10 wickets at the Under 19 World Cup this year and was named in the Team of the Tournament.
Q. Who should be captain in the WI vs NZ fantasy team?
A. Shai Hope is the best captain choice. He made an unbeaten 109 off 69 balls in the last ODI series between these teams and adds wicketkeeping points. Gudakesh Motie is a strong differential captain for grand leagues at his home ground in Guyana.
Q. What is the head to head record between West Indies and New Zealand in ODIs?
A. New Zealand lead 33 wins to 31 in 71 ODIs, with 7 no results. New Zealand have won the last five meetings, though West Indies have not lost a home ODI series since 2023.