KEY POINTS:
New Zealand coach John Bracewell resisted the urge to manufacture an opening partnership by picking two specialists for this week's first test against Sri Lanka.
That has meant a recall for the in-form Craig Cumming, while Jamie How holds his spot despite scoring 0 and 4 in his
last test against South Africa.
Cumming, 31, scored 47 against Sri Lanka last year in his last test innings and has averaged 26 in his five tests.
The other feature of the batting line-up is the much-anticipated return of Mathew Sinclair, whose sheer weight of runs over the past two seasons have made him impossible for the selectors to ignore.
Sinclair, 31, has played 25 tests, averaging 36.9 with three centuries. He stroked his 22nd first-class century last week. "I've just got to bring that domestic form of the past couple of seasons into the international arena," Sinclair told the Herald on Sunday.
Bracewell said form and continuity of selection were the principle factors in the selection process. "How is the incumbent and Sinclair and Cumming have been the form batsmen.
"In Sinclair's case, it is a continuation of the runs he scored last season and Cumming has had test experience. In the end, it came down to a sheer weight of runs compared with other candidates." The other possible candidates included Peter Fulton and Hamish Marshall, who opened together in the first test against South Africa in May. By the third test of that series, both had been dropped.
"We felt trying to ask guys to move up the order had been difficult for their skill set and we've gone back to looking at selecting options who choose to open rather than being asked to," Bracewell said.
There are also recalls for bowlers Iain O'Brien, who struggled when he last played for New Zealand against the touring Australians in 2005, and Michael Mason. A patella tendon injury suffered by Kyle Mills on Friday opened the door. It is likely O'Brien or Mason will be jettisoned on Wednesday when the squad is trimmed to 12.
"O'Brien has been the form bowler, especially his performances on very good batting strips and Mason's efforts have been very encouraging."
Mills, opener Michael Papps and allrounder Scott Styris were not considered due to injury.
Squad: Stephen Fleming (captain), Craig Cumming, Jamie How, Mathew Sinclair, Nathan Astle, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum, Daniel Vettori, James Franklin, Shane Bond, Chris Martin, Michael Mason, Ian O'Brien (one to be omitted on Wednesday).
Out: Peter Fulton, Hamish Marshall.
Injured: Scott Styris, Kyle Mills, Michael Papps.