WELLINGTON: New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum will drop back down the order for the Test series against Sri Lanka despite scoring a double century as an opener against Pakistan last month.

McCullum had only opened the innings in the UAE as a stop-gap measure, chairman of selectors Bruce Edgar said on Sunday, and would revert to his middle order position for the first Test in Christchurch starting on Dec 26.

“This is another series, in different conditions and against a completely different opponent,” Edgar said in a statement in naming the Test squad. “In these circumstances, we feel Brendon’s better suited to, and offers more value, down the order.”

All-rounder Corey Anderson was not considered due to a groin injury he sustained during the ODI series against Pakistan.

Squad:

Brendon McCullum (captain), Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Dean Brownlie, Mark Craig, Tom Latham, James Neesham, Hamish Rutherford, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, B.J. Watling, Kane Williamson.

Published in Dawn, December 22th, 2014