Wellington captain Matthew Bell got a belated birthday present today when recalled to the New Zealand team as an opening batsman for the first Test against Pakistan starting in Auckland on March 8.

Bell celebrated his 24th birthday yesterday when leading the Wellington side to its first win of the Shell Trophy since the summer of 1989/90.

But today's call up, made possible by this morning's announcement that Matt Horne would be unavailable for cricket for six to eight weeks while recovering from a viral illness which leaves him feeling lethargic after exercise, was the perfect tonic for the Trophy winning skipper.

Since being discarded after New Zealand's tour of India in 1999, Bell has been attempting to rehabilitate his game after some especially tough times against Indian pace man Javagal Srinath who dismissed five times out of his 14 Test innings.

Bell does have a highest Test score of 83, made in the drawn third Test against England at Old Trafford in 1999 when New Zealand claimed a 2-1 series victory.

Last summer he scored 536 runs at 31.52 in first-class cricket without scoring a century. This year he scored 844 runs at an average of 52.75 and scored five centuries in the Shell Trophy.

With the installation of a portable pitch at Eden Park for the first time the selectors have covered their options by naming off spinner Paul Wiseman as left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori's support.

The Test, and the management of his workload, will be important for Vettori, who has already shown in the one-day games that he has caused problems for the Pakistanis.

The CLEAR Black Caps team for the first Test in the National Bank Series v Pakistan is: Stephen Fleming (captain - Wellington), Nathan Astle (Canterbury), Matthew Bell (Wellington), James Franklin (Wellington), Chris Martin (Canterbury), Craig McMillan (Canterbury), Adam Parore (Auckland), Mark Richardson (Otago), Mathew Sinclair (Central Districts), Daryl Tuffey (Northern Districts), Daniel Vettori (Northern Districts), Paul Wiseman (Otago).

Shayne O'Connor was not included as he is still recovering from an injury.

The CLEAR Black Caps assemble on Sunday 4 March to participate in the State Backyard Test before heading to Auckland for their Test preparations.

Central Districts' fast-medium attack may have taken the Shell Cup by storm, and also produced some outstanding results but none of its young bowlers have been included in the New Zealand 'A' side to play Pakistan at Bert Sutcliffe Oval at Lincoln University, starting on Saturday.

The selectors have also shown they have not discarded fast-medium bowler Andrew Penn after his horror bowling spell in New Zealand's loss to Sri Lanka in Napier earlier in the month.

He has made the side along with outstanding Auckland all rounder Kyle Mills and Chris Drum.

Jacob Oram will captain the side with Chris Nevin at wicket-keeper. The full side is: Jacob Oram (captain-Central Districts), Chris Drum (Auckland), Chris Gaffaney (Otago), Richard Jones (Wellington), Kyle Mills (Auckland), Chris Nevin (Wellington), Andrew Penn (Wellington), Gary Stead (Canterbury), Glen Sulzberger (Central Districts), Lou Vincent (Auckland), Brooke Walker (Auckland).

The coach/manager of the side will be New Zealand Cricket's technical advisor Ashley Ross.

Chairman of selectors, Sir Richard Hadlee said all the players selected for New Zealand 'A' have made an impact in Shell Trophy.

"Chris Drum and Andrew Penn are two very experienced bowlers," Hadlee said.

"Drum particularly has had a very convincing year and these two are contesting the back-up position to the front-line Test bowlers.

"Similarly Gary Stead and Richard Jones are considered by the selectors as cover for the Test opening batsmen. All of the 'A' players are pushing for higher honours and now have an opportunity to impress against a quality international side," he said.

© CricInfo