March 02, 2008	Sunday	Safar 23, 1429

WELLINGTON, March 1: South African-born all-rounder Grant Elliott has been called into an injury-hit New Zealand squad for the first Test against England, starting in Hamilton on Wednesday.

The uncapped Elliott was included in an expanded 13-man squad after Peter Fulton, Michael Mason and Jesse Ryder were ruled out with injuries.

Jamie How and Ross Taylor were both recalled to the squad as a reward for their impressive performances in last month’s one-day series, which New Zealand won 3-1.

“We’ve haven’t played a lot of Test cricket lately so the squad was chosen mostly on one-day form,” New Zealand selector Dion Nash said. “This squad is for the first Test only then we’ll review it after that.”

Elliott, 28, is a middle-order batsman who also bowls medium pace.

“He’s a guy who has been our thinking for a while,” Nash said.

“He’s a very consistent performer in first-class cricket and has been involved in the New Zealand ‘A’ team. He gives us a few extra options because he brings some balance to the side.”

How, who has not played a Test since December 2006, joined the squad to partner Matthew Bell in opening the innings after scoring a century in the one-dayers.

Nash said his inclusion would allow former captain Stephen Fleming to bat at three.

“His (How) selection was a bit of a no-brainer really. He’s been in great form in one-day cricket and he virtually picked himself.”

Taylor, who was overlooked for last month’s two-Test series against Bangladesh, also forced the selectors’ hands by topping the batting averages in the limited-overs series.

New Zealand squad: Daniel Vettori (captain), Mathew Bell, Grant Elliott, Stephen Fleming, Jamie How, Chris Martin, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Iain O’Brien, Jacob Oram, Jeetan Patel, Mathew Sinclair, Ross Taylor.—Reuters