Jesse Ryder (left) made a strong start to his ODI career this year and now he could add a Test debut in Bangladesh.
Jesse Ryder is in line for a possible Test debut after earning a call-up into the 15-man New Zealand squad for their two-Test tour of Bangladesh. However, there was no place for James Marshall, Peter Fulton or Michael Mason, all of whom were in the group that toured England this year.
Aaron Redmond retained his place in the Test squad despite the disappointment of making only 54 from his six innings in England, where he made his debut. But the removal of Marshall and Fulton from the list of top-order options means Ryder has every chance to add a Test cap to his five ODI appearances.
It is a major vote of confidence in Ryder, who badly hurt his hand after punching a window in a local bar in a late-night incident in February. Ryder has also been starved of first-class cricket recently and played only three State Championship games for Wellington last season, but the selectors were impressed when he captained New Zealand to the Emerging Players title in Australia in July.
The Bangladesh tour starts with three one-day internationals and Mark Gillespie and Scott Styris have been named only for the limited-overs portion. In the lead-up to the first Test, which begins on October 17, that pair will fly home and the squad will be joined by the Test specialists Redmond and Iain O'Brien.
Chris Martin has been included in the 15-man ODI squad after being largely pigeon-holed as a Test player in recent times. The squad will leave a few days earlier than planned, on September 30, and Dion Nash, one of the selectors, stressed it would not be an easy trip.
"The team will have the challenge of competitive cricket in sub-continent conditions after the break enforced by the postponement of the Champions Trophy," Nash said. "Bangladesh will provide a stern test going into another international season, which offers the Black Caps the chance to build on this year's home and away series against England."
Test squad Jamie How, Aaron Redmond, Ross Taylor, Daniel Flynn, Jesse Ryder, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum (wk), Gareth Hopkins (wk), Grant Elliott, Daniel Vettori (capt), Kyle Mills, Tim Southee, Iain O'Brien, Jeetan Patel, Chris Martin.
ODI squad Jamie How, Brendon McCullum (wk), Scott Styris, Ross Taylor, Daniel Flynn, Jesse Ryder, Jacob Oram, Gareth Hopkins (wk), Grant Elliott, Daniel Vettori (capt), Kyle Mills, Tim Southee, Mark Gillespie, Jeetan Patel, Chris Martin.
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