WELLINGTON, Nov 6: New Zealand have decided on a pace-dominated bowling attack for their squad to take on Australia in the first Test in Brisbane from Nov 21.

Team selectors on Thursday left out Jeetan Patel, with captain Daniel Vettori the only spinner in the 15-man squad to take on the world’s top team.

New Zealand’s pace options for the first of the two Tests include Tim Southee, Iain O’Brien, Kyle Mills, Mark Gillespie and Chris Martin.

Only 13 players will initially travel to Brisbane, with batsman Peter Fulton remaining in New Zealand to play domestic cricket, New Zealand Cricket said.

Reserve wicket-keeper Gareth Hopkins will only be on call in Brisbane for one day before the start of the Test to cover for Brendon McCullum, who was named New Zealand’s Player-of-the-Year on Wednesday.

Missing from the squad is star all-rounder Jacob Oram, who has been ruled out of the series with a back strain.A new squad will be named for the second Test starting on Nov 28 in Adelaide, a wicket that traditionally offers less help to pace bowlers than Brisbane.

Squad:

Daniel Vettori (captain), Brendon McCullum (vice-captain), Aaron Redmond, Jamie How, Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor, Peter Fulton, Daniel Flynn, Grant Elliott, Gareth Hopkins, Tim Southee, Iain O’Brien, Kyle Mills, Mark Gillespie, Chris Martin.—AFP