Southee drafted into NZ Test squad

Basseterre, St. Kitts: Fast bowler Tim Southee has been drafted into the New Zealand squad for the two-Test series against the West Indies starting later this month.

The right-arm pacer had been originally named in the Twenty20 and one-day international squads but has now been named to replace Mark Gillespie, who has been ruled out with injury.

"Tim has impressed with the way he bowled in the one-day series so far and we have seen an improvement from where he was at the end of the home summer," said Kim Littlejohn, New Zealand's national selection manager.

Mark Gillespie has been ruled out for the two-Test series against West Indies later this month.

"He's a like-for-like replacement for Mark in terms of the type of bowler he is and his ability to unsettle the opposition batsmen with pace and bounce."

The 23-year-old Southee has played 17 Tests and 58 ODIs in a career spanning four years.

New Zealand face the West Indies in the first Test in Antigua from July 25-29 and the second Test in Jamaica from August 2-6.

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