Cricket: Two new caps in test side

Kane Williamson will make his debut for the test side on the Indian Tour. Photo / Getty Images

Two new caps have been included in the New Zealand test cricket squad to tour India next month.

Young Northern Districts batsman Kane Williamson and Canterbury fast bowler Hamish Bennett were named in a 15-strong squad today for three tests, the first starting at Ahmedabad on November 4.

Both have been blooded into the national side for recent one-day assignments, with Williamson debuting for his country in Sri Lanka in August and Bennett making the step up to the international stage during New Zealand's 0-4 one-day whitewash at the hands of Bangladesh this month.

Coach and selector Mark Greatbatch said both Bennett and Williamson deserved their selection in the test squad after showing promise in Bangladesh, where Williamson scored his maiden one-day international century.

"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 players - Brent Arnel, Martin Guptill, Chris Martin, Tim McIntosh, Gareth Hopkins and Jeetan Patel - will travel directly to India from Zimbabwe where they today completed a 2-0 victory in a three-match series of four-day games for New Zealand A.

"The group of players coming from Zimbabwe have had the ideal preparation with three hard fought matches in difficult conditions. The rest of the squad have been training hard and are keen to prove that they are better that the recent performances in Bangladesh," Greatbatch said.

"We are well aware that we are recent performances are not up to scratch and we need to improve if we are to compete with a very strong Indian side. The team are determined to do so."

The squad contain no surprises, with Central Districts batsman Mathew Sinclair the only player missing from New Zealand's last test appearance, against Australia at Hamilton in March.

New Zealand are also to play five one-dayers against India, and a revised squad for those will be named closer to the opening game at Guwahati on November 28.

New Zealand test squad: Brent Arnel (Northern Districts), Hamish Bennett (Canterbury), Martin Guptill (Auckland), Gareth Hopkins (Auckland), Chris Martin (Auckland), Brendon McCullum (Otago), Tim McIntosh (Auckland), Andy McKay (Wellington), Jeetan Patel (Wellington), Jesse Ryder (Wellington), Tim Southee (Northern Districts), Ross Taylor (Central Districts), Daniel Vettori (captain, Northern Districts), BJ Watling (Northern Districts), Kane Williamson (Northern Districts).

- NZPA