Allrounder Corey Anderson and spinner Ish Sodhi are missing from New Zealand’s squad for the first Test against Sri Lanka while there is a recall for batsman Dean Brownlie.
Legspinner Sodhi is squeezed out of the 13-man squad for the opening match of the series starting in Christchurch on Boxing Day. The second and final Test is in Wellington.
The selectors have named Mark Craig as the lone spinner, having exceeded expectations since his debut in the mid-year series win in the West Indies.
Craig was man of the match for his 10-wicket haul in the third Test defeat of Pakistan in Sharjah last month.
Anderson is ruled out by a groin strain suffered during the fourth one-day international against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi this week. It forced him to miss the Black Caps’ series-clinching fifth ODI win on Friday.
Anderson’s absence throws a possible lifeline to another allrounder, Jimmy Neesham, who is included despite a lack of recent form.
Thirty-year-old Brownlie is a chance to play his first Test for more than 18 months.
The Cantabrian, who averages just under 30 from 14 Tests, could possibly replace Hamish Rutherford as an opening partner for Tom Latham or could be named ahead of Neesham and used at No.6 to bolster the batting lineup.
National selection general manager Bruce Edgar confirmed captain Brendon McCullum won’t open the batting, as he did alongside Latham during the three-Test series against Pakistan in November.
He scored a double-century in the Sharjah triumph.
“This is another series, in different conditions and against a completely different opponent,” Edgar said.
“In these circumstances, we feel Brendon’s better suited to, and offers more value, down the order.”
There are four seam bowlers named, with in-form Doug Bracewell contesting the third berth with Neil Wagner behind new-ball pair Trent Boult and Tim Southee.
Latham, Brownlie, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor and Neesham were in the successful ODI squad in the United Arab Emirates who will face a turnaround off less than a week for the Christchurch Test.
BLACK CAPS SQUAD
Tom Latham, Hamish Rutherford, Dean Brownlie, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum (capt), James Neesham, BJ Watling, Mark Craig, Tim Southee, Doug Bracewell, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult
