Cricket: NZ turn to Arnel, Martin to stem run tide

Northern Districts bowler Brent Arnel has forced his way into the NZ test squad. Photo / Getty Images

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 next week.

Northern Districts' Brent Arnel is the latest pace bowler handed the challenging task of curbing a top order that has flogged New Zealand's attack at will throughout the one-day format.

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.

New Zealand's most test-hardened quick 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 12-man squad for the first test at at Seddon Park in Hamilton from Wednesday and while his elevation may have been a surprise it was always anticipated Martin Guptill would earn 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 ND in 2005-06 and since then has taken 72 wickets at 26.88 - though he has rarely been mentioned as a possible international.

However, Arnel emphasised his claims when taking three for 47 and two for 39 for New Zealand A against their English counterparts in Lincoln earlier this week.

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.

"Brent has bowled well consistently over a period of time, and has the advantage of having done quite a bit of bowling in recent four-day matches," said chief selector Glenn Turner.

James Franklin retains his place in the test squad after a low key return from a long term knee injury against the West Indies in December.

He has not featured in the ODI schedule this summer but after increasing his bowling workloads for Wellington and New Zealand A his left-arm seam bowling is seen an another variation the Indians have not yet experienced on tour.

Franklin essentially fills the allrounder's berth vacated by Jacob Oram, who will play in the fifth and final ODI at Eden Park on Saturday but is not yet considered fit enough to withstand the demands of a five-day test.

"He (Oram) has made good progress in recovering from injury, but Jacob is not yet fully confident that his body would stand up to rigours of a five-day game," Turner said.

Oram will play in the four-day domestic competition with Central Districts and may be considered for the selection later in the test series.

Jeetan Patel retains his place as the second spinner behind Vettori and may be employed in tandem with Daniel Vettori on Seddon Park given the duo were effective when New Zealand beat England by 189 runs at the venue last year.

The second test is scheduled for Napier's McLean Park from March 26-30 while Wellington's Basin Reserve hosts the tour finale from April 3.

New Zealand's squad for the final ODI in Auckland remains unchanged from the side who conceded a 3-0 series lead to India at Seddon Park last night.

Pace bowler Ian Butler misses the final match with a hip flexor injury sustained during game three in Christchurch last weekend.

The test squad is: 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.

- NZPA