KEY POINTS:
Teenage paceman Trent Boult and seasoned allrounder Brendon Diamanti are surprise selections in the New Zealand squad to face Australia in next month's Chappell-Hadlee one-day cricket series.
Northern Districts' 19-year-old Boult and Central Districts attacking batsman Diamanti, 27, will make their debut in the five-game series which begins in Perth on February 1.
Boult and Iain O'Brien boost the pace-bowling ranks in place of Mark Gillespie, dropped from the one-day squad that played the last two matches against West Indies this month.
Test regular this year O'Brien has played just one one-day international.
Also dropped from the West Indies series is batsman Daniel Flynn, who makes way for Peter Fulton.
Diamanti effectively replaces world class allrounder Jacob Oram, who hasn't been selected because of injury.
Selection-panel head Glenn Turner said Boult won the nod after a string of good performances in the State Shield domestic one-day competition and with the New Zealand A and under-19 sides.
"It's great to be able to bring a quick left-armer into the squad," Turner said.
"Trent has been impressive in his first season in the State Shield, with 13 wickets at an average of 23.84.
"He's also performed well for New Zealand A and the national under-19 side and we believe he's ready to step up to the top level."
Boult was one of the top performers for the New Zealand under-19 side at the 2008 World Cup. He took seven wickets in a match against Malaysia.
Turner said the selectors regarded right-arm medium pacer Diamanti as suited to the one-day game.
"Brendon has impressed with his big hitting in the middle to lower order," Turner said.
"His 28 off nine balls for Central against Canterbury earlier this month was an outstanding match-winning knock.
"He's also an experienced go-to bowler. He has variation with the ball that's especially valuable in the power plays."
Fulton returns after strong domestic form, including a knock of 85 not out in helping Canterbury defeat Wellington this week.
"Peter is likely to be in the middle order where his ability to manoeuvre the ball and hit big will be an asset."
Turner said O'Brien had adapted well to the one-day game, introducing more variation to his pace.
Back-up wicketkeeping duties will be covered by Jesse Ryder, who has previously donned the gloves at lower levels.
Another player can be called up within a day if required to replace first choice gloveman Brendon McCullum.
The tour begins with a match against an Australian Prime Minister's XI at Canberra next Thursday and finishes with a Twenty20 international on February 15.
* NZ squad
Daniel Vettori (c), Brendon McCullum, Jesse Ryder, Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, Peter Fulton, Neil Broom, Grant Elliott, Brendon Diamanti, Tim Southee, Kyle Mills, Jeetan Patel, Iain O'Brien, Trent Boult
- NZPA
