Jeetan Patel Replaces Injured Daniel Vettori In NZ Squad

Jeetan Patel Replaces Injured Daniel Vettori In NZ Squad

Daniel Vettori (left) misses out through injury to hand a chance to Jeetan Patel (right).

©REUTERS/Andrew Caballero-Reynolds. Picture Supplied by Action Images

New Zealand have been dealt a blow ahead of their tour of India after Daniel Vettori was ruled out of the Test leg with a groin injury. He has been replaced in the squad by Jeetan Patel, while fellow spinner Tarun Nethula retains his place. The other change from the squad that toured the West Indies is the axing of batsman Dean Brownlie in favour of all-rounder James Franklin.

National selection manager, Kim Littlejohn said of the squad selected, "Unfortunately Daniel Vettori won't recover in time for the Test series but his injury has created an opportunity for Jeetan Patel to come back into the side. Jeetan has been in great from for Warwickshire (he has taken 38 first-class wickets at an average of 23.65) and deserves his opportunity. 

"James Franklin has been brought into the squad to bolster the batting. He brings a lot of experience and knowledge of playing in Indian conditions which will be invaluable. Dean Brownlie misses out on selection. We continue to see him as player of the future but at this stage we feel he needs to works on parts of his game. There's no doubt he will work hard to regain selection."

The first of two Tests begins in Hyderabad on 23rd August, with the second beginning on 31st August in Bangalore. The teams then play two Twenty20 Internationals before heading to the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka in September.

New Zealand Test squad: Ross Taylor (captain), Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Daniel Flynn, James Franklin, Martin Guptill, Chris Martin, Brendon McCullum, Tarun Nethula, Jeetan Patel, Tim Southee, Kruger van Wyk (Wicket-keeper), Neil Wagner, BJ Watling (wicket-keeper), Kane Williamson. 

© Cricket World 2012