Craig, Ronchi picked for Caribbean tour

Rookies included in New Zealand squad for Test series

WELLINGTON: New Zealand selectors included two new caps in a 15-man Test squad named on Tuesday to tour the West Indies in June, with injury-hit spinner Dan Vettori's future under a cloud.

Otago slow-bowler Mark Craig was plucked from obscurity in anticipation of spin-friendly wickets on the three-Test tour, alongside fellow rookie Luke Ronchi, a wicket-keeper batsman with one-day experience for the Black Caps but who had never made the Test side.

Craig, 27, who has not played international cricket at any level, will potentially form a spin partnership with Ish Sodhi after his surprise call up to replace the unavailable Jeetan Patel.

New Zealand Cricket said Patel was sitting out the June tour ‘for personal reasons’, although media reported that he ruled himself out in order to concentrate on playing English county cricket for Warwickshire, rather than try to revive a faltering international career.

Coach Mike Hesson said New Zealand's most potent spin weapon, Vettori, was unavailable because "he felt his bowling loads were not yet up to the intensity of Test cricket".

The 35-year-old all-rounder has been plagued by Achilles and back injuries and last played Test cricket almost two years ago.

The New Zealand squad consists of Brendon McCullum (captain), Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Mark Craig, Peter Fulton, Tom Latham, James Neesham, Ronchi, Hamish Rutherford, Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling and Kane Williamson.