WI vs NZ Test 2025/26: Complete Records Breakdown & Historic Achievements

 In one of the most remarkable displays of grit and resilience in Test cricket history, West Indies batted for 163.3 overs in the fourth innings to secure a memorable draw against New Zealand in Christchurch during the 2025/26 series. This WI vs NZ Test will be remembered not only for the incredible duration of their innings but also for the historic records that were rewritten. Led by Justin Greaves’ sensational double century, the West Indies showcased courage, determination, and technical brilliance, etching their names into the annals of cricket history.

Highest Fourth-Innings Totals in Test Cricket

The West Indies’ fourth-innings total of 457/6 is now officially the second-highest fourth-innings total in Test cricket history, a record that spans nearly 149 years of cricket. Only England’s timeless Test score of 654/5 against South Africa in 1939 surpasses this monumental achievement.

Team	Total	Overs	Against	Venue	Season	Result
Eng	654/5	218.2×8	SA	Durban	1938/39	Draw
WI	457/6	163.3	NZ	Christchurch	2025/26	Draw
NZ	451	93.3	Eng	Christchurch	1901/02	Lost
SA	450/7	136	Ind	Johannesburg	2013/14	Draw
Pak	450	145	Aus	Brisbane	2016/17	Lost

West Indies batted relentlessly for 163.3 overs, showcasing supreme concentration, patience, and teamwork. In this WI vs NZ Test, batting for over 163 overs in a fourth innings is an extraordinary testament to mental strength. It is also only the second instance in the 21st century where a team has batted 160+ overs in a fourth innings, after Pakistan’s 171.4 overs against Australia in Karachi in 2022. This innings was a masterclass in defensive batting while steadily building partnerships and keeping New Zealand’s bowlers under constant pressure.

Justin Greaves Etches His Name in History

At the heart of this historic WI vs NZ Test was Justin Greaves, who scored an unbeaten 202 runs, rewriting multiple records in the process.

Player	Runs	Against	Ground	Season
George Headley	223	Eng	Kingston	1929/30
Bill Edrich	219	SA	Durban	1938/39
Sunil Gavaskar	221	Eng	The Oval	1979
Gordon Greenidge	214*	Eng	Lord’s	1984
Nathan Astle	222	Eng	Christchurch	2001/02
Kyle Mayers	210*	Ban	Chattogram	2020/21
Justin Greaves	202*	NZ	Christchurch	2025/26

Why this is historic:

• Greaves became only the seventh batter ever to score a double century in the fourth innings of a Test.
• He is the first to achieve this while batting at No. 6 or lower, a testament to his ability to adapt under pressure in the WI vs NZ Test.
• Greaves joined an elite group to score two 150+ partnerships in a fourth innings, equalling Sunil Gavaskar’s record from 1979.
• He also became only the second player to score a double century in the second innings after scoring zero in the first, following South Africa’s Dudley Nourse in 1935.

Greaves’ innings wasn’t just about runs; it was about resilience, timing, shot selection, and the ability to wear down the opposition over long periods. His partnership-building, strategic running between the wickets, and calm presence at the crease set a perfect example of Test cricket temperament, making this WI vs NZ Test a legendary contest.

A Partnership for the Ages: Greaves & Roach

Another highlight was the 189-run unbeaten partnership between Justin Greaves and Kemar Roach, which turned the tide in West Indies’ favor during the WI vs NZ Test.

Partnership	Runs	Balls Faced	Wicket	Opponent	Venue	Season
Greaves-Roach	180*	409	7th	NZ	Christchurch	2025/26

Significance:

• This is the highest seventh-wicket or lower partnership in a fourth innings of any Test.
• In terms of balls faced, it is the longest for a seventh-wicket or lower in a fourth innings, emphasizing sheer concentration and physical endurance.
• Kemar Roach scored his maiden Test fifty in his 138th innings, marking the longest wait in cricket history for a first fifty. Only a few bowlers like James Anderson and Ishant Sharma had similar long waits.

The partnership was an intricate mix of aggressive strokes when needed, careful defense, and smart running. Facing over 400 balls, the duo not only ensured the draw but also demoralized New Zealand, who had expected to wrap up the match comfortably in this historic WI vs NZ Test.

Roach’s Age-Defying Feat: Fifty & Five-Wicket Haul

Adding to the historic nature of the match, Kemar Roach at 37 years and 155 days became the fourth-oldest player to score a fifty and take a five-wicket haul in the same Test.

Player	Age	Bat1	Bat2	Bowl1	Bowl2	Against	Season
R Ashwin	38y 2d	113	DNB	0/29	6/88	Ban	2024/25
B Congdon	37y 347d	54	54	5/65	DNB	Ind	1975/76
L Constantine	37y 332d	79	TDNB	5/75	1/97	Eng	1939
K Roach	37y 155d	10*	58*	2/47	5/78	NZ	2025/26

This double achievement highlighted Roach’s enduring fitness, skill, and cricketing intelligence. Achieving a fifty while batting lower down the order, combined with a five-wicket haul, shows his all-round capability and immense value to the West Indies team even in the later stages of his career during this WI vs NZ Test.

Historic Notes & Records

• The match marked the first draw in New Zealand in 21 Tests, ending a long streak of defeats.
• Only three result streaks in a host country have gone longer: Australia (87 Tests), South Africa (38 Tests), and Sri Lanka (28 Tests).
• West Indies’ marathon batting effort is now celebrated as one of the greatest fourth-innings defenses in Test cricket history, solidifying the WI vs NZ Test as one of the most memorable contests of the 21st century.

The 2025/26 Christchurch Test will forever be remembered for Greaves’ masterful double century, Roach’s age-defying performance, and the unbreakable partnerships that secured a historic draw for West Indies. This iconic WI vs NZ Test will remain a reference point for endurance, skill, and Test cricket excellence.