New Zealand call up Dean Brownlie and Tom Latham for South Africa series

Christchurch, Oct 19 (IANS) New Zealand Cricket (NZC) have called up batsmen Dean Brownlie and Tom Latham for the first of the three-match One-Day Internationals (ODI) series against South Africa beginning this Tuesday.

New Zealand chief coach Mike Hesson said that the call-ups gave the duo a chance to impress following injuries to former captain Ross Taylor, who will miss the series due to a calf strain, and established batsman Kane Williamson, who will sit out of the opener due to a wrist injury.

"Tom had a very good tour to the West Indies with the Test team and also impressed in the warm-up match in Lincoln while Dean was in strong form on the recent New Zealand A tour to the United Kingdom," Hesson said in a statement.

Brownlie, 30, last played an ODI in the West Indies in July 2012, while the 22-year-old Latham was last seen in an ODI in Sri Lanka in November last year.

Hesson also announced that pacer Tim Southee is fit for the series and will partner seamer Trent Boult, who was seen last in an ODI side in February 2013, and youngster Matt Henry, who made a fine ODI debut against India in January with 4/38.

The New Zealand coach also welcomed the inclusion of former captain Daniel Vettori and said that South Africa are one of the best sides in the world.

"South Africa are a very consistent outfit in all forms, deservedly ranked second in one-day cricket and have world class players throughout their line-up," the 39-year-old said.

"We've never played international cricket this early in the season so the conditions will be challenging and it's hard to know how the new ground at Bay Oval will shape up. But both teams will be hungry to get their World Cup preparations off to a good start."

The series begins with the hosts' first ever match at Tauranga's Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui Oct 21. It will be followed by the second match on October 24 at the same venue, while the third match will be held in Hamilton on October 27.

The squad for the first ODI: Brendon McCullum (Captain), Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Dean Brownlie, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Mitchell McClenaghan, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, James Neesham, Luke Ronchi, Tim Southee, Daniel Vettori.