Cricket: Neesham, Latham added to Black Caps

Jimmy Neesham. Photo /Getty

Otago allrounder Jimmy Neesham and Canterbury batsman Tom Latham have been added to the New Zealand 13-man squad for the second test against India starting in Wellington on Friday.

Neesham is in replacing Doug Bracewell, while Latham is there as cover for Ross Taylor, whose wife is expecting a second child.

Neither player has played a test and the New Zealand XI is expected to be unchanged from that which won the first test by 40 runs at Eden Park.

Bracewell and Ryder have been fined and dumped from the squad after late night misbehaviour last Wednesday a few hours before the first test started.

Medium pacer and hard-hitting lefthand batsman, Neesham showed he's in strong form with a rapid 147 against Central Districts in a Plunket Shield match in Nelson yesterday.
He's a member of New Zealand's limited-overs squad.

Latham has played short-form internationals too, and averages 42 in first-class cricket.
Neesham is a chance to play if the selectors, coach Mike Hesson and Bruce Edgar, decide to opt for an all seam attack and rest legspinner Ish Sodhi, who received some rough treatment from India's batsmen during the first test.

Black Caps squad for second test v India
Brendon McCullum (c) - Otago Volts
Corey Anderson - Northern Knights
Trent Boult - Northern Knights
Peter Fulton - Canterbury Wizards
Tom Latham - Canterbury Wizards
Jimmy Neesham - Otago Volts
Hamish Rutherford - Otago Volts
Ish Sodhi - Northern Knights
Tim Southee - Northern Knights
Ross Taylor - Central Stags
Neil Wagner - Otago Volts
BJ Watling - Northern Knights
Kane Williamson - Northern Knights