New Zealand name 13-man squad for Pakistan World Test Championship series

The Black Caps will push for a place in the inaugural ICC World Test Championship Final, as they look to back up their 2-0 series win over West Indies earlier this month.

The first Test on Boxing Day takes place at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, before the New Year’s Test at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on January 3.

New Zealand sit just behind India in third place in the WTC points table. A series sweep against Pakistan and a heavy defeat for India in Australia would see the Black Caps well placed to return to Lord’s in London for another ICC final.

With Williamson returning after missing the second Test against West Indies for the birth of his first child, Devon Conway drops out of the squad, with Will Young continuing as the batting cover.

Daryl Mitchell remains as the pace-bowling all-rounder in place of Colin de Grandhomme who was last week ruled out of the series with a stress-reaction to his right ankle.

The Test squad assembles in Mount Maunganui on Wednesday.

Squad:
Kane Williamson (c), Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling (wk), Will Young