Hopkins to join New Zealand squad in Australia

Gareth Hopkins, the wicketkeeper from Otago, has been picked to play in New Zealand's opening game of their Australian tour. New Zealand start their month-long tour with a game against New South Wales starting next Thursday and Hopkins's inclusion means that Brendon McCullum would get an opportunity to rest.

McCullum was the only specialist wicketkeeper on New Zealand's tour of Bangladesh and had an excellent series with the bat, scoring his maiden Test century at Dhaka. Lindsay Crocker, New Zealand's manager, said that the decision to play Hopkins was two-fold.

"Firstly it gives Brendon the chance to have a few days off which he deserves after his very good series in Bangladesh and secondly it helps keep Gareth in the loop if something did happen to Brendon and we need him to join the team at short notice."

Hopkins had impressed with his performances in the tri-series in England earlier this year and had also done very well for New Zealand A on their recently completed tour of South Africa.

The first of the two Tests starts in Brisbane on November 18.