KEY POINTS:
Allrounder Scott Styris was included in the team selected for the two Twenty20 internationals, but he also turned down the opportunity to return to the national test side.
The Herald on Sunday understands Styris was approached by New Zealand Cricket following the tour to England to make himself
available for test cricket.
He retired in February after being dropped for the soft home series against Bangladesh following a poor series in South Africa where his fitness was as big a talking point as his form.
However, New Zealand went on to lose four of six tests in home and away series against England and batting continued to be their Achilles heel.
Styris was asked to reconsider his decision to retire but a source said he declined.
The allrounder was said to have been disappointed with his NZC central contract, which placed him in the lowest rung of retainers - $72,000 plus match fees - but his limited overs-only status precludes him from going further up the list as test players get a 1.25 weighting.
There had been speculation that the motives behind Styris' retirement from the long form of the game were to maximise his earning potential in the Indian Premier League - the more you are available, the higher value you have.
Styris was picked up by the Hyderabad-based Deccan Chargers for US$300,000.
But when Styris joined the squad in England for the one-day series he told this newspaper that his only motivation for retiring from tests was to extend his international career, with the 2011 World Cup on the subcontinent the target.
Styris will find himself with a new international team-mate, when he joins the squad for the T20 internationals.
Central Districts' left-handed allrounder Ewen Thompson will make his international debut after a long career at first-class level.
The 29-year-old has been a consistent performer for CD but his international aspirations had been just as consistently thwarted, much to his annoyance.
Said selector Glenn Turner: "He swings it and he's one of those guys who doesn't 'arrive' so you can get through your shot. He's always at you, he's hard to score from and he can give it a whack at the death."
The first T20 international takes place on Boxing Day at Eden Park, with the second at Hamilton's Seddon Park on December 28.
Twenty20 squad: Daniel Vettori (c), Daniel Flynn, James Franklin, Mark Gillespie, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Jeetan Patel, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Scott Styris, Ross Taylor, Ewen Thompson.