Neesham back in New Zealand Test team for India tour

James Neesham has returned to the New Zealand Test squad for their three-Test tour of India. The 25-year-old has been reinstated for the first time since he left last year's series in Australia after suffering a back injury.

"Jimmy [Neesham] has put in a lot of work to make sure he is physically ready for a return to Test cricket," selector Gavin Larsen said in media release on Tuesday. "Having two pace bowling all-rounders in Jimmy and Doug Bracewell helps the balance of the squad, particularly if playing on pitches which demand a spin-heavy bowling attack."

The 15-man squad has three changes from the side which recently toured Africa, with paceman Matt Henry and uncapped legspinner Jeet Raval omitted.

"Jeet Raval misses out on this tour, but we were really pleased with what we saw of him in Africa. He did everything asked of him and we'll continue to monitor him closely," added Larsen.

The squad has three specialist spinners in Mark Craig, Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner, while Tim Southee and Trent Boult will lead the pace attack, which also comprises Neil Wagner and the two allrounders.

"Mitch Santner and Ish Sodhi will have benefitted from getting a taste of Indian conditions earlier this year at the ICC World Twenty20 and both showed excellent form at that tournament. It's another big challenge for them early in their young careers, as well as for Mark Craig, who has made some changes in the past six months and has shown growth in his game."

New Zealand are currently placed seventh in the Test rankings, having lost an away series to South Africa recently. India, on the other hand, are placed just below top-ranked Pakistan in the rankings, trailing them by one point. Their last series saw them inflict a 2-0 defeat of West Indies in the Caribbean.

India's the No.2 ranked side in the world, and their record at home is formidable. We're yet to win a Test series over there and that's motivating for everyone. We've got three Tests to try create a special piece of history," Larsen summed up.

New Zealand depart for India on September 11 and will play a three-day warm-up in New Delhi ahead of Tests in Kanpur, Kolkata and Indore.

Squad: Kane Williamson (capt), Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Mark Craig, Martin Guptill, Tom Latham, James Neesham, Henry Nicholls, Luke Ronchi, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling.