KEY POINTS:
Matthew Bell will revive a long-dormant test career in this week's first test against Bangladesh in Dunedin.
The Wellington opener is back for his 14th test after a six-year absence, by dint of strong domestic form. He has jumped ahead of both Jamie How and Michael Papps.
How
is unlucky. He did a good job in the one-dayers in South Africa and against Bangladesh, and is in good touch. Papps is discarded after failing in South Africa.
Craig Cumming, back after getting a cracked cheekbone against South Africa, will open with Bell, having proved his fitness.
The selectors also appreciate his tough-minded qualities.
But what got the panel ringing Bell didn't work for the bowler of the moment, Auckland's lively Andre Adams. He has been overlooked as the selectors zeroed in on solving their chief concern: the top order batting.
Bell, 30, has hit 722 runs for Wellington in the State Championship this season, averaging 103. Adams has taken 29 wickets for Auckland at a com-pelling 8.7 apiece.
But national selector Glenn Turner, speaking for the four-man panel yesterday, said batting had occupied their minds more than bowling.
"Andre is obviously going particularly well this year, no doubt about that," he said. "But we don't feel the bowlers have been our problem. You don't have to be a genius to work out batting is the main issue."
Bell's last test was against Australia at Hobart in November 2001, and his average is a modest 22. One of the selectors' criteria was finding openers who can set out their stall and bat time.
The more mature Bell, with seven- and eight-hour innings for 265 and 188 not out this season, fits the bill.
"That was obviously an attraction," former opening great Turner said of Bell's work this summer. "He's in good nick and deserves his position."
But the main surprise was the dumping of middle-order batsman Scott Styris, who lost out to Matthew Sinclair for the No 5 spot. The last of Styris' five test centuries was against the West Indies at Eden Park in March 2006. But he has gone beyond 50 just once in his last 12 innings, and is averaging 16 in that period.
Turner confirmed that Sinclair, who hit 243 not out in his only first-class innings this season, is rated ahead of Styris - who has played 29 tests and averages 36.04 - for the ability to bat lengthy periods and is in front of the other candidate, Ross Taylor, in all-round terms.
Turner said the panel, which includes coach John Bracewell, Sir Richard Hadlee and Dion Nash, had plenty of robust discussion as befitting "a very opinionated group, and I think that's very healthy".
"Sometimes debate takes longer than you might expect. I see that as a plus, rather than a minus."
The 12th man will be one of the fast-medium picks, Michael Mason or Iain O'Brien.
The 12 for the University Oval's first test includes neither offspinner Jeetan Patel - who is likely to come into the 13 for the second test in Wellington - nor fast-medium Mark Gillespie, not considered as he battles a niggling shoulder injury. Gillespie will be in the Wellington 13, provided he's fit.
Bangladesh, meanwhile, have revamped their demoralised squad, as new arrivals Habibul Bashar, Shariar Nafees and Enamul Haque had a net workout here while their teammates were getting thrashed by 10 wickets.
Bashar, a former captain and veteran of 47 tests, will come in at first drop while opener Nafees is in contention to partner teenager Tamim Iqbal at the top of the order.
Haque is a left arm spinner.
Batsmen Javed Omar, Tushar Imran, Mehrab Hossain and pace bowler Nazmul Hossain return home.
BLACK CAPS
Daniel Vettori (c), Brendon McCullum (vice-captain), Matthew Bell, Craig Cumming, Stephen Fleming, Peter Fulton, Chris Martin, Michael Mason, Kyle Mills, Iain O'Brien, Jacob Oram, Mathew Sinclair.
Spinner Jeetan Patel will be added to the squad for the second test in Wellington
