New Zealand names two uncapped players for India Tests

WELLINGTON - Uncapped Kane Williamson and Hamish Bennett have been included in the three-match Test tour of India starting next month.

Bennett, 23, has been drafted in place of experienced seamer Daryl Tuffey in the 15-man squad. Bennett is the part of five-pronged attack that includes Chris Martin, Tim Southee, Andy McKay and Brent Arnel.

Williamson’s selection was on the cards after a maiden One-dayer century in Bangladesh where his ability to bowl off-spin also came to the fore.

Coach and selector Mark Greatbatch said it is Bennett’s pace that worked in his favour.

“We wanted a different variety of swing bowlers and pace bowlers. Hamish Bennett has obviously made a bit of an impression because of his pace,” Greatbach was quoted as saying in a website.

“We were looking at him in the longer version three-four months ago when he showed some pretty good signs for the New Zealand Emerging Players in Australia,” he said.

“There was an opportunity to take him to Bangladesh and he has obviously shown us enough for us to take him across to India and have him in the mix of bowlers.”

Most of the players head to India Saturday. They will be joined there by six players - Brent Arnel, Martin Guptill, Chris Martin, Tim McIntosh, Gareth Hopkins and Jeetan Patel — who will travel directly to India from Zimbabwe.

New Zealand are to play five One-day Internationals against India, and a revised squad for those will be named closer to the opening game at Guwahati Nov 28.

New Zealand 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, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson.