CLEAR Black Caps side for third Test to be named on Saturday - Daniel Vettori unavailable

The CLEAR Black Caps team for the final National Bank Series Test against Pakistan will be named by the national selection panel on Saturday 24 March.

The announcement will be by media release mid-morning.

The timing allows the selection panel to watch the first two days of the tour match between Wellington and Pakistan at the Basin Reserve played today and tomorrow.

It also allows the medical panel to monitor Shayne O'Connor for any ill effects from his bowling performance for the Selection XI against the State Central Stags earlier this week. It was O'Connor's first match for three months after suffering a patella tendon injury (knee) in early January. O'Connor bowled 27 overs across the two-day and one-day games. He took 4-22 and 2-10 in the two-day game, and 1-44 in the one-day game.

Meanwhile the medical panel has advised the selectors that Daniel Vettori will be unavailable for the third Test. Vettori has a stress fracture of the back and requires further rest before returning to the demands of Test cricket.