WELLINGTON: Top-order batsman Aaron Redmond has earned a New Zealand Test recall, five years after he last played the longest form of the game, for the series against West Indies that starts next week.
The 34-year-old has been named in a 13-man squad for the three-match series that starts at the University Oval in Dunedin on December 3 ostensibly to provide cover for the injured Kane Williamson who broke his thumb last month.
Redmond, who last played a Test against Australia in 2008, has been in good form in Plunket Shield first-class cricket for the past two seasons and batted well in a warm-up match in Christchurch.
“Aaron has made a good start to the Plunket Shield to date and on top of the 67 he scored yesterday for the New Zealand XI we felt he was the best top order batting cover,” selection manager Bruce Edgar said yesterday.
Williamson broke his thumb on the tour of Bangladesh and medical staff had thought his injury may take up to six weeks to heal. He will undergo a fitness check before the team is finalised.
Squad: Brendon McCullum (captain), Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Peter Fulton, Aaron Redmond, Hamish Rutherford, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson. REUTERS
