Injured Vettori out of India tour, Patel recalled

Jeetan Patel's county form has earned him a Test recall © PA Photos

Daniel Vettori has been ruled out of New Zealand's Test tour of India due to a groin injury he suffered in the West Indies, while the batsman Dean Brownlie has been dropped after a disappointing Caribbean tour. The offspinner Jeetan Patel has earned a recall as a result of his outstanding county form for Warwickshire, and the allrounder James Franklin has also been named in a 15-man squad.

They are the only two changes from the group that lost 2-0 to West Indies over the past two weeks, with the legspinner Tarun Nethula again included despite being overlooked for an all-pace attack in Jamaica when Vettori was injured. New Zealand could play two spinners in the Indian conditions but if not, Nethula will face stiff competition for a spot from Patel, who has 38 first-class wickets at 23.65 in the County Championship this year.

"The tour of India will be a great challenge and experience for this squad," the national selection manager Kim Littlejohn said. "Unfortunately Daniel Vettori won't recover in time for the Test series but his injury has created and opportunity for Jeetan Patel to come back into the side. Jeetan has been in great from for Warwickshire and deserves his opportunity.

"James Franklin has been brought into the squad to bolster the batting. He brings a lot of experience and knowledge of playing in Indian conditions which will be invaluable. Dean Brownlie misses out on selection. We continue to see him as player of the future but at this stage we feel he needs to works on parts of his game. There's no doubt he will work hard to regain selection."

The Indian trip consists of two Tests, beginning in Hyderabad on August 23, and will present an enormous challenge for New Zealand following their miserable Caribbean tour. They will especially require more from their batsmen; Kane Williamson's 102 in Wellington in March is the only century made by a New Zealander in their past five Tests.

Squad Martin Guptill, Daniel Flynn, Brendon McCullum, Ross Taylor (capt), Kane Williamson, BJ Watling, James Franklin, Kruger van Wyk, Doug Bracewell, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult, Tarun Nethula, Jeetan Patel, Chris Martin.

© ESPN EMEA Ltd.