Craig Spearman and Paul Wiseman are among the players recalled to the New Zealand squad for the three-Test tour of India beginning late next month. New Zealand Cricket convenor of selectors, Ross Dykes, announced the team at a press conference today.

Spearman, who made the last of his eight Test appearances in Sri Lanka in June 1998, earns a recall in place of the out-of-form Roger Twose. The Central Districts batsman scored 842 runs in first-class cricket in the 1998/99 New Zealand season and is a candidate for the number three batting spot with Stephen Fleming expressing a desire to drop to number four.

Off-spinner Wiseman has been chosen as the second spinner on the tour in place of leg-spinner Brooke Walker. His five Test career to date began auspiciously with 5/82 on debut when New Zealand defeated Sri Lanka at Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. It is likely that he will share the spin attack with Daniel Vettori in India.

Auckland pace bowler Chris Drum is chosen for his first overseas tour in which he has not been a late replacement. Andrew Penn has also been included in the touring party. The Central Districts seamer appeared in tour matches for the New Zealand team in England when their numbers were depleted by injury. Drum and Penn replace Simon Doull and Geoff Allott, both of whom were not considered for selection because of injury.

Reserve wicketkeeper Martyn Croy is the remaining player dropped from the Test squad that toured England, selectors deciding not to send a specialist backup for Adam Parore. Chris Cairns will undergo a fitness test on his right knee before being cleared for the tour.

The Indian tour will be the first for the new management team of Jeff Crowe and coach David Trist.

The New Zealand team is due to commence their first tour match on September 30, with three Tests at Mohali, Kanpur and Ahmedabad between October 10 and November 2. Five head-to-head one-day internationals will be played following the Test matches. New Zealand selectors will announce an updated squad for the ODI's at a later date.

The New Zealand Test squad for the tour of India:

Stephen Fleming (capt), Nathan Astle, Matthew Bell, Chris Cairns, Chris Drum, Chris Harris, Matthew Horne, Craig McMillan, Dion Nash, Shayne O'Connor, Adam Parore, Andrew Penn, Craig Spearman, Daniel Vettori, Paul Wiseman.