New Zealand recall Peter Fulton for first two Tests

New Zealand have recalled batsman Peter Fulton in the 13-member squad for the first two Tests against Pakistan starting November 24 in Dunedin. Allrounder Grant Elliott comes back from injury while Shane Bond returns to the longer version of the game for the first time since quitting the unauthorised ICL.

The two exclusions from the Test squad that toured Sri Lanka are Jesse Ryder and Craig Cumming. Ryder pulled his left abductor muscle during the Champions Trophy match against Sri Lanka in September and was eventually ruled out of the series against Pakistan in the UAE. Fulton, who toured Australia earlier this year, has made a fine start to the domestic season, scoring 320 runs in two games for Canterbury in the Plunket Shield.

"Fulton makes his comeback based on excellent performances on winter tours with the Emerging Players and New Zealand A teams - as well as an outstanding start to the Plunket Shield," Mark Greatbatch, one of the selectors, said.

Elliott feared the thumb injury he suffered during the Champions Trophy would rule him out for the entire series against Pakistan but Greatbatch said his limited-overs form helped his case for inclusion in the Test team.

Greatbatch said he was happy with the way Bond had progressed with his fitness since making a comeback to the national squad during the tour of Sri Lanka. Bond was then picked only for the limited-overs games because the selectors didn't want to fast-track him into Test cricket straightaway.

"Shane has shown a lot of energy in the UAE and in domestic cricket, and has bowled a good number of overs," Greatbach said. "It will be exciting to have him back,"

Another former ICL player who will have a chance to revive to his Test career is the seamer Daryl Tuffey. He didn't play the Sri Lanka Tests and suffered a hand injury which forced him to return home from South Africa during the Champions Trophy.

"Significantly, of the 66 Test wickets he's (Tuffey) taken, 24 have been against Pakistan - it's a team he's done very well against," Greatbatch said.

Squad: Daniel Vettori (capt), Shane Bond, Grant Elliott, Daniel Flynn, Peter Fulton, Martin Guptill, Chris Martin, Brendon McCullum (wk), Tim McIntosh, Iain O'Brien, Jeetan Patel, Ross Taylor, Daryl Tuffey