Injury blow for NZ ahead of first Test

New Zealand are hopeful injured allrounder Mitchell Santner will play a part in the Black Caps' Test series against Australia after being ruled out of the opening match.

The left-arm spinner, who is recovering from a bruised foot, has been replaced in the squad for the first Test beginning in Wellington on Friday by offspinner Mark Craig.

Santner picked up injury during the second one-dayer against the tourists on Saturday and sat out as New Zealand won the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy decider in Hamilton on Monday.

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Coach Mike Hesson says a decision on Santner's availability for the second and final Test in Christchurch will be made at a later stage.

"It's one of those things that if we continue to play him, it could turn into a far longer injury," Hesson said.

"Hopefully we've got it early enough."

Santner's replacement at Seddon Park was legspinner Ish Sodhi, who took two wickets, helped to slow down the Australian run rate and went on to be named man of the match.

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However, that wasn't enough for Sodhi, who has 11 Test caps, to get the nod over Craig.

"Ish has certainly shown he is a better white-ball bowler at the moment than a red-ball bowler," Hesson said.

"That's certainly something he's working on and will continue to do over time."

Craig, 28, has taken 46 scalps in 13 Tests but lost his place to Santner for the home series against Sri Lanka after a disappointing tour of Australia last November.

Hesson said pace bowler Trent Boult had recovered from the illness that forced him out of the final one-dayer.

There were also positive reports about two players making their return from injury in swing bowler Tim Southee and batsman Ross Taylor.

After five weeks out with a foot complaint, Southee bowled a combined 23 overs and took 2-67 in Northern Districts' 284-run Plunket Shield win over Central Districts in Napier.

Hesson said Southee had come through the match well and would be assessed in Wellington.

"Tim is a huge part of our attack and if he is fighting fit it will great to have him back," he said.

Hesson said Taylor - ruled out for the first Test because of an injury to his left side picked up in the ODI against Pakistan on January 22 - "had a bit of a hit yesterday before the game".

NZ TEST SQUAD: Brendon McCullum (c), Tom Latham, Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, Henry Nicholls, Corey Anderson, BJ Watling, Luke Ronchi, Mark Craig, Doug Bracewell, Tim Southee, Matt Henry, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult.