25 Oct 2010

Two debutants in Black Caps squad for India

11:40 am on 25 October 2010

Two uncapped Test cricketers have been selected for New Zealand's tour of India with batsman Kane Williamson and fast bowler Hamish Bennett included in the Black Caps squad for next month's series.

Six players - Brent Arnel, Martin Guptill, Chris Martin, Tim McIntosh, Gareth Hopkins and Jeetan Patel - will travel directly from Zimbabwe to India where they have been playing a series of four-day matches for New Zealand A.

Coach Mark Greatbach says Bennett did everything asked of him on the disastrous tour of Bangladesh and offers the side a genuine pace option.

The Black Caps' first Test of the three-match tour gets underway on November the 4th.

New Zealand:

Brent Arnel - Northern Knights

Hamish Bennett - Canterbury Wizards

Martin Guptill - Auckland Aces

Gareth Hopkins - Auckland Aces

Chris Martin - Auckland Aces

Brendon McCullum - Otago Volts

Tim McIntosh - Auckland Aces

Andy McKay - Wellington Firebirds

Jeetan Patel - Wellington Firebirds

Jesse Ryder - Wellington Firebirds

Tim Southee - Northern Knights

Ross Taylor - Central Stags

Daniel Vettori (c) - Northern Knights

B-J Watling - Northern Knights

Kane Williamson - Northern Knights