New Zealand unchanged for 2nd England Test

WELLINGTON (AFP) –

New Zealand’s captain Brendon McCullum (R) shakes hands with England‘s batting coach Graham Gooch at the end of play during day four of the first international cricket Test match between New Zealand and England played at the University Oval park in Dunedin on March 10, 2013.

New Zealand named an unchanged squad Monday for the second Test against England, with coach Mike Hesson saying he wanted to reward a fine performance in the drawn first Test in Dunedin.

Seamer Doug Bracewell failed to reclaim his spot in the 13-man squad after missing the first Test when he cut his foot while cleaning up after a house party.

Hesson said he hoped to maintain momentum for the Test beginning in Wellington on Thursday after New Zealand dominated the early stages of the rain-affected opening fixture but ran out of time as they pushed for victory.

“I was very pleased with both the bowling and batting efforts in Dunedin and we plan to build on that in Wellington,” he said.

He said Bracewell would undergo a medical assessment to determine if he will be fit for the third test in Auckland.

However, the 22-year-old may find it difficult to dislodge Neil Wagner, who took his place in the side and claimed seven wickets against the world’s second-ranked Test team.

Spinner Bruce Martin and opening batsman Hamish Rutherford both made their Test debuts in Dunedin, with Rutherford hitting 171 in his first innings, the seventh highest debut in Test history, and Martin taking five wickets.

New Zealand – Brendon McCullum (captain), Trent Boult, Dean Brownlie, Ian Butler, Peter Fulton, Tom Latham, Bruce Martin, Hamish Rutherford, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson.