At a glance

Black Caps squad for the first test against Sri Lanka in Wellington, starting on Saturday: Kane Williamson (captain), Tom Latham, Jeet Raval, Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling, Colin de Grandhomme, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Ajaz Patel, Trent Boult, Matt Henry, Will Young.

chase a 2-0 series victory over Sri Lanka which would see

them vault to No 2 in the world test rankings.

For the first of five home tests against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh it looks a straightforward selection, with senior pace trio Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Neil Wagner likely to be reunited, joining Patel and allrounder Colin de Grandhomme behind a stable top-six batting lineup.

Matt Henry will likely carry the drinks again but looks a strong chance of playing the second test on his home track in

Christchurch given Stead’s desire to rest and rotate his bowlers.

Stead said of the tough decision to omit Wagner in the third Pakistan test: "Tim [Southee] was fresh and we were looking for someone who could potentially reverse the ball into the right-hander. The two leftarmers tend to swing the ball the other way.

"It was horses for courses and trying to manage the freshness of our bowlers over a long summer.

"When you talk about someone

like Neil Wagner who has the record that he does, and bowled superbly well to help us win the first test, they’re always tough selection discussions. That’s a really positive thing that we’re in that position."

Stead noted the spin depth was a welcome problem to have, too, with Mitchell Santner and Todd Astle still sidelined but potentially in line to return in the New Year.

New Zealand assemble in Wellington tomorrow.