New Zealand announce Test squad for series against India

New Zealand have retained the same squad for India series which won 2-0 against West Indies

New Zealand have announced an unchanged 15-member Test squad from the one that beat the West Indies 2-0 at home last year for the series against India.

New Zealand will play a 2-Test series against India which starts on February 6th. The first Test will be played at Auckland and the two teams will then travel to Hamilton for the second Test starting February 14th.

All-rounder Jesse Ryder will be travelling with the squad as a back up for Ross Taylor, whose wife is expecting the couple’s second child. Opener Martin Guptill could not earn a recall to the Test side as the selectors decided to persist with the opening pair of Hamish Rutherford and Peter Fulton.

“Martin was discussed along with Tom Latham who is also pressing his claims at the top of the order. We are showing some faith in both Hamish and Peter,” New Zealand coach Mike Hesson said. “I think we all know what Peter did last time he was at Eden Park (scored against England). Hamish showed some really good qualities in Hamilton to get us through that last Test win (against West Indies). It is a hard side to make at the moment.”

Hesson said that the team’s strong middle order did not allow for Ryder’s selection but Ryder could still slot into the middle order should Taylor become unavailable.

“[Ryder] is playing really nicely,” Hesson said. “[Batsmen at] Three, four, five had a good last series so there is no spot for him there. But if Ross is unavailable for one of the Tests, then I know Jesse would do a very good job.”

The New Zealand coach also backed young legspinner Ish Sodhi and said the pitches for the Tests would have to be “very, very green” for the team management to go with an all-pace attack.

“Even if it a green wicket, it is not green for five days,” Hesson said. “So if your seamers are able to do the job over the first two-three days, then you have got some variation coming over the back end. It will have to be very, very green for us not to play a spin bowler.

Sodhi, who was born in India, has played 5 Tests so far for New Zealand and played all 3 Tests against the West Indies picking up 5 wickets and scoring 89 runs.

“He [Sodhi] has returned to first-class cricket. He has some experience in the shorter form and he’s performed nicely in that. So he’s confident and he’s the best spin bowler in the country and he’s only 21,” Hesson said.

India will play a 2-day warm up game against a NZ XI side on 2nd and 3rd February ahead of the Test series.

New Zealand squad for the Tests against India:

Brendon McCullum (c), Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Peter Fulton, Hamish Rutherford, Jesse Ryder, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson