• Howick and Pakuranga Times

HAVING successfully introduced Doug Bracewell and Dean Brownlie to test cricket, New Zealand coach John Wright has dropped a bombshell with the inclusion of Sam Wells for the Napier test against Zimbabwe.

A sharp 65 for the NZ XI against the tourists in Gisborne on Saturday clinched 27-year-old all-rounder Wells his place.

Although he’s unlikely to start, his selection in the squad ahead of the in form Rob Nicol is surprising, although his first-class batting averages of 59.75 and 40.16 did demand attention.

With Jesse Ryder still recuperating from his calf injury, Daniel Vettori is expected to bat at six ahead of BJ Watling, who clinched the wicketkeeper/No 7 batsman’s berth with a timely 84 in Gisborne to thwart the challenge of the competent Kruger van Wyk.

While Zimbabwe are hardly world-beaters, they were competitive on their home soil against the Black Caps last year and have an exceptional batsman in Brendan Taylor and a dangerous pace bowler in Brian Vitori.

It’ll be intriguing to see just how well the New Zealand batsmen can adapt to test cricket from the rapid-fire demands of Twenty20.

That the Auckland Aces should easily defend their T20 national title against the Canterbury Wizards despite a loss to them in the penultimate game was no surprise, after the northerners’ dominance throughout the competition.

That batsman Martin Guptill should average 72 was an astonishing feat, with Central’s Doug Bracewell confirming his all-rounder status with a second best 60.33 ahead of Brendon McCullum’s 46.5.