How, Fulton and Patel in New Zealand Test side

Jamie How, Peter Fulton and Jeetan Patel have been included in New Zealand's squad for the first Test against West Indies at Eden Park in Auckland on March 9.

John Bracewell, New Zealand's coach, announced the 13-man squad for the first of three Tests with the major talking point being the opening combination of How and Hamish Marshall. How and Fulton, the Canterbury batsman, have shown promise in the handful of one-day appearances they have been given, while Patel's inclusion comes on the back of handy spells as Supersub in recent times.

The remainder of the squad is the nucleus of the side which thumped West Indies 4-1 in the one-day series. The surprise omission was that of Lou Vincent, who scored a century in the fourth one-day match in Napier on Wednesday. Chris Martin, the fast bowler, makes a return to the side.

Two players will be omitted on the morning of the match to play domestic cricket, New Zealand Cricket said.

Squad: Nathan Astle, Stephen Fleming (captain), Peter Fulton, Jamie How, Hamish Marshall, Scott Styris, Brendon McCullum, Chris Martin, Kyle Mills, Jeetan Patel, Daniel Vettori, Shane Bond, James Franklin.