New Zealand have recalled Mathew Sinclair for batsman Neil Broom in a 13-man squad selected for Friday's first Test against Australia in Wellington.
New Zealand have recalled Mathew Sinclair for batsman Neil Broom in a 13-man squad selected for Friday's first Test against Australia in Wellington.
Coach Mark Greatbatch said Sinclair, who hasn't played a Test for two years and averages only 32.55 in 32 matches, had been included as a back-up player.
"We felt we needed a cover top-order batter, rather than cover for our middle order, so Neil is a little unlucky in that respect," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Greatbatch, who is also a selector, as saying.
Daniel Vettori, who is already New Zealand captain and selector and the team's leading bowler, will also be given the responsibility of batting at No.6 in the two-Test series.
The left-arm spinner showed in 2009 he was more than handy with the bat, scoring 779 runs at 59.92 in eight Tests including three centuries.
"He has been very successful there over the last half-dozen Tests," Greatbatch said.
The Kiwis, who are sixth on the ICC Test rankings compared to Australia's third spot, will be weakened by the Test retirement of pace spearhead Shane Bond.
Bond has quit first-class cricket and is heading to the Indian Premier League following New Zealand's 3-2 loss to Australia in the Chappell-Hadlee series of one-day internationals.
New Zealand won the dead-rubber fifth game in Wellington by 51 runs on Saturday night with Bond taking 4-26.
New Zealand Test squad: Daniel Vettori (Capt), Brent Arnel, Martin Guptill, Peter Ingram, Brendon McCullum, Tim McIntosh, Chris Martin, Jeetan Patel, Mathew Sinclair, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Daryl Tuffey, B.J. Watling.
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