Justin Greaves: 'Test cricket a massive step up from first-class cricket in Caribbean'

Allrounder Justin Greaves has called the progression from first-class cricket in the West Indies to Test cricket a "massive step up".

Greaves, 31, is coming off of a match-saving 202 not out against New Zealand in the first Test in Christchurch. Chasing 531, he began his innings with West Indies 72 for 4 on the fourth day. Greaves batted for nearly nine and a hours and faced 388 balls to help them survive 163.3 overs and salvage a draw. He said that learnings from conversations with Jason Holder had helped improve his game.

"It [Test cricket] is a massive step up from first-class cricket in the Caribbean," Greaves said. "It's a lot more demanding both physically and mentally. This is where I always wanted to be - so I had to change the way I train, both strength-and-conditioning and skill-wise. Enjoying it, learning as I go along.

"If I can pick up some tips from the other successful allrounders around the world when we play against them, I pretty much do that. I lean on Jason Holder, who's been around with the T20 squad when I'm here. I've dropped him a few messages in terms of finding out what he's done to have the career he's had in Test cricket so far."

Greaves was part of the West Indies Test teams that toured Australia in 2023-24 and Pakistan earlier this year. He has played 12 Tests so far. Travelling to and playing in different countries has required him to get stronger, eat better, and learn to be patient.

"Everything had to change because it's not easy being on the road [in] different conditions," Greaves said. "When you're at home, it's pretty easy because you know pretty much all the conditions in the Caribbean, and then, coming overseas, playing cricket in Australia and then to Pakistan, and here now, in New Zealand, everything is different.

"Adapting to that in the gym, getting stronger, eating better in terms of food, putting on a bit more muscle as well, and being a bit stronger; skill-wise, adding a bit more to my game; [while] batting - being a bit more patient because at this level, everything is not given to you. Bowling-wise, being the allrounder in the team, you can be bowling, and within an hour or two, you could be batting again. So, you're putting your mind to it, and adapting to change."

Greaves will hope to build on this performance in the second Test against New Zealand in Wellington, which starts on Wednesday, with the three-match series locked at 0-0.