New Zealand vs West Indies Prediction: Who Will Win 3rd Test Match on 18th December 2025?
The New Zealand vs West Indies prediction for the 3rd and final Test of the 2025 series heavily favours the home side as the action shifts to the historic Basin Reserve, Wellington. New Zealand enter this match riding high on confidence after a dominant 9-wicket victory in the second Test, a result that underlined the gulf in consistency and execution between the two teams. With the series already tilted in their favour, the Black Caps will be keen to finish strongly and register a comprehensive series win, while West Indies face the challenge of restoring pride after another disappointing batting display.
Throughout the series, New Zealand have been clinical with both bat and ball. Their bowlers have exploited local conditions expertly, particularly Jacob Duffy, who has emerged as the leading wicket-taker with relentless accuracy and aggression. The batting unit, anchored by Tom Latham and Kane Williamson, has shown patience and discipline, converting starts into match-defining contributions. Devon Conway’s composure at the top has further strengthened New Zealand’s control in key phases of the game.
West Indies, in contrast, have struggled to cope with movement and bounce. Despite Shai Hope’s admirable resistance with the bat, the rest of the lineup has failed to provide meaningful support. Repeated collapses have placed excessive pressure on the bowlers, who, barring Kemar Roach’s efforts, have found it difficult to contain New Zealand’s methodical approach. The Basin Reserve traditionally rewards seam bowlers early before flattening out, a pattern that suits New Zealand’s strengths far more than the visitors’.
With home advantage, superior form, and a settled combination, New Zealand are well placed to dominate once again. West Indies will need an extraordinary turnaround in batting discipline and application to challenge the hosts. As things stand, momentum, conditions, and squad balance all point firmly towards another New Zealand victory in this decisive Test.
- New Zealand won the 2nd Test by 9 wickets and hold strong momentum
- West Indies struggling with batting collapses throughout the series
- Basin Reserve expected to assist seamers early
- New Zealand start as clear favourites to win the 3rd Test
Match Details
| Match | New Zealand vs West Indies, 3rd Test |
|---|---|
| Date | Thursday, 18 December 2025 |
| Time | 9:30 PM (IST) |
| Venue | Basin Reserve, Wellington |
| Series | West Indies Tour of New Zealand 2025 |
Team Preview
New Zealand Team Preview
New Zealand have been outstanding across all departments in this Test series and will head into the third match with confidence and clarity in roles. Their bowling unit has set the tone consistently, exploiting helpful conditions with discipline and variation. Jacob Duffy has been the standout performer, leading the wicket charts with 14 scalps and regularly breaking partnerships. Blair Tickner and Matt Henry have complemented him well, providing sustained pressure from the other end.
The batting lineup has been equally impressive. Tom Latham, the leading run-scorer for New Zealand with 189 runs, has anchored the innings and set strong platforms. Kane Williamson, as ever, has provided stability and assurance in the middle order, while Devon Conway has looked compact and assured at the top. Mitchell Hay’s valuable contributions down the order have added depth and resilience.
New Zealand’s ability to control matches through long, disciplined spells and patient batting makes them particularly dangerous at home. The Basin Reserve suits their style of play, allowing seamers to strike early and batters to cash in once set. With minimal weaknesses exposed so far, New Zealand appear well positioned to dominate the final Test as well.
West Indies Team Preview
West Indies have endured a difficult series, with recurring batting failures undermining any chance of sustained competitiveness. While there have been moments of promise, particularly from Shai Hope, who leads the team’s run-scoring charts with 249 runs, the lack of partnerships has been glaring. In the second Test, promising starts from John Campbell and Brandon King once again went unconverted, highlighting a familiar issue.
The middle order has struggled to handle movement, and the lower order has offered limited resistance. Kavem Hodge showed some fight in the second innings, but such isolated performances have not been enough to challenge New Zealand’s bowling depth.
With the ball, Kemar Roach has been West Indies’ most effective bowler, picking up 9 wickets and maintaining control. Jayden Seales and Anderson Phillip have shown effort, but without scoreboard pressure, their impact has been limited. Spin options like Jomel Warrican may come into play later in the Test, but early breakthroughs remain essential.
For West Indies to compete, they must display far greater discipline with the bat and sustain pressure with the ball—both areas where they have fallen short so far.
Team Squads
New Zealand Squad
Tom Latham (c), Tom Blundell, Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner, Kane Williamson, Will Young
West Indies Squad
Roston Chase (c), Jomel Warrican (vc), Alick Athanaze, John Campbell, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Justin Greaves, Kavem Hodge, Shai Hope, Tevin Imlach, Brandon King, Johann Layne, Anderson Phillip, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales, Ojay Shields
Probable Playing XI
New Zealand:
Tom Latham (c), Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Hay, Tom Blundell (wk), Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Blair Tickner, Mitchell Santner
West Indies:
John Campbell, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Shai Hope, Brandon King, Kavem Hodge, Roston Chase (c), Tevin Imlach (wk), Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales, Anderson Phillip, Jomel Warrican
Dream11 Prediction for Today New Zealand vs West Indies 3rd Test
| Role | Players |
|---|---|
| Batters | Tom Latham, Kane Williamson, Shai Hope |
| All-Rounders | Daryl Mitchell (C), Roston Chase |
| Wicketkeeper | Tom Blundell |
| Bowlers | Jacob Duffy (VC), Matt Henry, Kemar Roach, Blair Tickner |
Fantasy selection for this Test should focus on consistency and workload, particularly among top-order batters and frontline bowlers. Daryl Mitchell is an excellent captaincy option due to his ability to contribute with both bat and ball over long spells. Jacob Duffy is a strong vice-captain choice given his current wicket-taking form and high involvement.
Tom Latham and Kane Williamson are reliable batting picks, offering stability and long innings potential. Shai Hope remains West Indies’ safest fantasy option with the bat. Tom Blundell adds value through keeping points and lower-order contributions.
In bowling, Matt Henry and Blair Tickner provide sustained pressure, while Kemar Roach remains West Indies’ primary wicket-taking threat.
Captain Options: Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham
Vice-Captain Options: Jacob Duffy, Kane Williamson
Players to Avoid: Justin Greaves, Ojay Shields
Also Check: Get The Best Dream11 Prediction From Cricket Experts
Favourite Team in Today’s Match (Why?)
New Zealand are the clear favourite in today’s match due to their dominance in the ongoing Test series, stronger home form, and balanced squad performance across batting and bowling. After winning the second Test comprehensively, New Zealand’s players boast confidence and rhythm, particularly in familiar conditions at the Basin Reserve.
Their seam bowling attack led by Jacob Duffy and Matt Henry has been incisive, exploiting early movement and placing consistent pressure on the West Indies batting order. With Tom Latham and Kane Williamson anchoring the innings, New Zealand’s batting is deeper and more dependable.
In contrast, West Indies have struggled to build partnerships and cope with disciplined bowling attacks, with their middle order repeatedly collapsing under pressure. Even with individual performers like Shai Hope and Kemar Roach, the visitors lack the collective consistency required to challenge a well-rounded New Zealand unit. At home, where pitches assist patient and skillful cricket, New Zealand are expected to dictate terms and command proceedings.
New Zealand Test History
| Matches | Won | Lost | Draw |
|---|---|---|---|
| 482 | 122 | 189 | 171 |
New Zealand have established a strong home advantage with disciplined bowling and resilient batting.
West Indies Test History
| Matches | Won | Lost | Draw | Tied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 591 | 185 | 222 | 183 | 1 |
West Indies possess a rich Test legacy but often struggle in away conditions, particularly in seamer-friendly environments.
New Zealand vs West Indies Head-to-Head Stats
| Matches | NZ Won | WI Won | Draw |
|---|---|---|---|
| 51 | 18 | 13 | 20 |
Head-to-Head Overview:
New Zealand hold a narrow historical advantage in Test contests against West Indies. While many matches have ended in draws, New Zealand have consistently performed better at home, leveraging seam movement and home familiarity to outplay the touring side.
Pitch Report – Basin Reserve
The Basin Reserve in Wellington traditionally offers support to fast bowlers early in a Test match, with good seam movement and bounce especially under overcast conditions. Bowlers who hit the right lengths can trouble batters within the first session. As the match progresses, the pitch tends to flatten, allowing disciplined batters to build innings and accumulate runs.
Spinners become useful later in the game, particularly in the third and fourth innings when the surface begins to wear slightly. First-innings totals of around 350–380 often reflect a competitive score here. Patience and shot selection are key for batting sides, while bowlers benefit from early rhythm and consistent execution.
Weather Report
Expect mild conditions in Wellington with temperatures around 20–22°C and mostly clear skies. Early morning cloud cover may assist seamers, but no significant precipitation is forecast, allowing uninterrupted play throughout the Test.
Broadcast Details
The New Zealand vs West Indies 3rd Test 2025 will be televised live on Sky Sport NZ and streamed globally via Amazon Prime Video with ball-by-ball coverage, expert commentary, and real-time statistics for comprehensive viewing.
Toss Prediction
At the Basin Reserve, winning the toss can be crucial due to early seam movement and cloud cover. New Zealand are predicted to win the toss and are likely to choose to bat first, aiming to build a big innings on a potentially helpful surface.
Probable Batsman & Bowler
For New Zealand, Tom Latham is the most likely top scorer due to his current form and ability to bat long periods in varying conditions. Kane Williamson remains another key batting threat; his technique and experience make him a consistent run accumulator. In the bowling department, Jacob Duffy is the most probable top wicket-taker with his sharp seam movement and accuracy, while Matt Henry can exploit bounce and extract late movement.
For West Indies, Shai Hope is their principal batting hope, capable of anchoring innings and steering the side through challenging phases. Brandon King and Kavem Hodge offer depth in the middle order, though consistency has been lacking. With the ball, Kemar Roach remains the leading wicket-taking threat, generating pace and movement with the new ball. Jayden Seales could also make key breakthroughs with disciplined spells.
Match Prediction
Based on current form, home advantage, and team balance, New Zealand are expected to win the 3rd Test against West Indies. Their consistent bowling pressure and deeper batting lineup give them a clear edge in Wellington conditions, despite West Indies’ resilient efforts. Expect New Zealand to dominate key sessions and secure victory.
Our Winner Prediction: New Zealand Will Win
Also, once the toss takes place, we might modify the Today Match Prediction as per the playing XIs. Please check this blog after the toss for the updated Prediction.
Disclaimer: Predictions are for entertainment purposes only. We don’t get involved in or promote betting or gambling. Also, We strongly discourage behaviors of participating in illegal activities related to cricket. Our experts try to be as correct as possible, but we do not guarantee 100% correctness.
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