Williamson, Bennett new faces
Wellington, Oct. 24: Batsman Kane Williamson and fast bowler Hamish Bennett were the only uncapped players named on Sunday in the New Zealand team to play three Tests in India next month.
Selectors Daniel Vettori, Mark Greatbatch and Glenn Turner resisted making wholesale changes to the New Zealand line-up in the aftermath of their 4-0 loss to Bangladesh in the recently concluded one-day series.
Williamson, who was the only New Zealand batsman to make a century in Bangladesh, now has the chance to transfer his form from the one-day to the Test arena.
Canterbury fast bowler Bennett played for New Zealand for the first time in Bangladesh and has also been given the chance to try himself in the longer format.
Greatbatch said both Bennett and Williamson had earned their Test selection with sound performances in Bangladesh.
“Kane Williamson is an impressive young talent and his game continues to improve with his involvement in the national team, while Bennett did everything asked of him on the recent tour of Bangladesh and offers the side a genuine pace option,” Greatbatch said.
Six members of the 15-man squad — Brent Arnel, Martin Guptill, Chris Martin, Tim McIntosh, Gareth Hopkins and Jeetan Patel — have been playing for the New Zealand A team which has just completed a series of three four-day matches in Zimbabwe. New Zealand won the series 2-0.
New Zealand and India meet in Tests beginning on November 4 at Ahmedabad.
Squad
Brent Arnel, Hamish Bennett, Martin Guptill, Gareth Hopkins, Chris Martin, Brendon McCullum, Tim McIntosh, Andy McKay, Jeetan Patel, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Daniel Vettori (capt), B.J. Watling, Kane Williamson
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