Young loses Kiwis Test spot

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Reece Young, right, has lost his place in the New Zealand squad for this month's one-off Test against Zimbabwe in Napier, with BJ Watling and Kruger van Wyk competing for wicketkeeping duties

New Zealand have omitted Reece Young from their squad for the one-off Test with Zimbabwe in Napier, starting on January 26.

The 32-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman, who featured in the Black Caps’ series-levelling victory over Australia last month, has failed to retain his place in the 12-man squad after struggling to make an impression with the bat.

Coach John Wright has called up BJ Watling and Kruger van Wyk, who are both batsmen that have the ability to don the gloves, and will make a decision after New Zealand’s three-day warm-up match against Zimbabwe in Gisborne.

Experienced batsman Jesse Ryder is absent as he continues to occupy the sidelines with a calf injury.

"There's a lot of competition for the wicketkeeping spot in the country at the moment," Wright said.

"It's tough on Reece; his keeping has been good and he knows that if he goes back to domestic cricket and scores runs he will remain in the frame.

"BJ will get a chance to prove himself with the gloves in the three-day game and Kruger will open the batting. A decision on who will take the gloves in the Test will be made closer to the start of the match."

New Zealand squad: Ross Taylor (captain), Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Dean Brownlie, Martin Guptill, Chris Martin, Brendon McCullum, Tim Southee, Daniel Vettori, Kruger van Wyk, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson.