Black Caps select pace bowler Arnel for first Test against India

Wellington (New Zealand), Mar.12 (ANI): Northern Districts fast bowler Brent Arnel has been selected in the Black Caps squad for the first test against India at Hamilton next week.

New Zealand's cricket selectors have turned to an old hand and a new face in a desperate bid to constrain India's rampant batting line-up when the teams switch to test mode.

Arnel, who has previous experience in India when he toured there with New Zealand A last September, is the newcomer to a bowling unit reinforced by the recall of 45-test veteran Chris Martin.

Martin returns after being axed from the side following the 0-2 series loss to Australia in November.

Arnel, 30, is one of two new caps named in the 13-man squad. Martin Guptill also earns his first test cap at the top of the order.

Guptill, who replaced Jamie How for the fourth ODI against the West Indies in January, has been a revelation in his debut ODI season and was a logical choice to partner Auckland teammate Tim McIntosh.

Arnel made his first class debut for Northern Districts in 2005-06 and since then has taken 72 wickets at 26.88.

He has been chosen ahead of provincial teammate Tim Southee who was discarded from the ODI set-up after conceding a record 105 runs from 10 overs in Christchurch on Sunday.

New Zealand test squad: Daniel Vettori (captain), Brent Arnel, Daniel Flynn, James Franklin, Martin Guptill, Tim McIntosh, Brendon McCullum, Chris Martin, Kyle Mills, Iain O'Brien, Jeetan Patel, Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor. (ANI)