NEW DELHI: The New Zealand cricket board on Thursday announced an unchanged 13-member squad for the upcoming two-Test home series against Sri Lanka.
The Kiwis, under Tim Southee recently edged England by a solitary run to become the only fourth team in the history to win a Test after following-on.
The Test series against Sri Lanka is set to commence from March 9 with Christchurch and Wellington to host the two games.
There were no surprises in the squad for Sri Lanka series, although rookie seamer Jacob Duffy, leg-spinner Ish Sodhi, and injured pace bowler Kyle Jamieson were excluded.
Former captain Kane Williamson will continue to be the batting mainstay along with Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell and Will Young, while Tom Blundell will keep wickets during the Sri Lanka series.
Wagner will spearhead the pace-bowling department along with Southee, Matt Henry, Blair Tickner and Scott Kuggeleijn.
While reigning World Test champions New Zealand are out of contention for a berth in the WTC final, Sri Lanka are still in with a chance and a 2-0 sweep for the Islanders could help them make it to the title round.
NZC also announced that they will play a three-match T20I series against the United Arab Emirates in August on their way to England for white-ball commitments.
It will be only the second time that New Zealand will play the UAE in a full international, following the 1996 World Cup ODI between the two sides at Faisalabad, in Pakistan.
"In terms of the global cricket family, it's important we keep helping each other, and growing the game on an international scale. NZC has a close relationship with the Emirates Cricket Board and our players are very familiar with the environment," said NZC chief executive David White in a statement.
The matches will be played on August, 17, 19 and 20, with the venues yet to be confirmed.
New Zealand Test squad for Sri Lanka Tests: Tim Southee (c), Tom Blundell (wk), Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Blair Tickner, Neil Wagner, Scott Kuggeleijn, Henry Nicholls, Kane Williamson and Will Young.
(With inputs from PTI)
