Black Caps running out of patience with misbehaving batsman
New Zealand have omitted Jesse Ryder and named two uncapped players in their squad for the upcoming Test series against South Africa.
Batsman Rob Nicol has been named in Ryder's place in the 13-man squad for the three-Test series, which gets under way in Dunedin on Wednesday.
Ryder, 27, has paid the price after another alcohol-related incident, which saw the left-hander and team-mate Doug Bracewell suspended for Saturday's third one-day international against the Proteas.
Opener Nicol and middle order batsman Andrew Ellis, the other uncapped player selected in the Test squad, have played Twenty20 and one-day international matches, but have never represented New Zealand at Test level.
Patience
Paceman Brent Arnel is back in the squad for the first time since the second Test against Pakistan more than a year ago but injured batsman Dean Brownlie misses out.
New Zealand coach John Wright admitted that Ryder is beginning to test his patience, but insisted that the recent late-night incident in a hotel bar was not the main reason for his exclusion from the squad.
"I think they're two different situations," he said "(The breach in protocol) didn't help, certainly, but basically I think (Ryder) needs some more cricket if he's to force his way into the Test team.
"He's had fitness issues previous, and I think he needs to play some more four-day cricket."
South Africa have already wrapped up a 2-1 win in the Twenty20 competition between the two sides and have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series ahead of the final match in Auckland on Saturday.
New Zealand Test: Ross Taylor (captain), Brent Arnel, Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Andrew Ellis, Martin Guptill, Chris Martin, Brendon McCullum, Rob Nicol, Tim Southee, Daniel Vettori, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson.