Central Districts' match against India has proven invaluable for Test newcomer Michael Mason when he was named in the New Zealand team for the first Test of the National Bank series against India today.

Mason gets his chance ahead of New Zealand Cricket-contracted player Chris Martin.

A player who has already suffered more injuries in his brief career than most players would face in a lifetime, including a devastating broken ankle two years ago, Mason has been a comer as a spearhead of an impressive Central Districts bowling attack over the last four seasons.

Mason is playing his 31st first-class match against India and before the start of the second innings of the tour match which finishes in Napier today he has taken 95 wickets at an average of 25.49.

His CD captain Jacob Oram has also been included in the Test 12, and the reason for him making a precautionary withdrawal from his side's match against India on the morning of the match has become more apparent.

He was said to have felt a hamstring in the Super Max International on Wednesday evening, where he bowled impressively during India's second innings, and felt it wasn't worth damaging his leg.

Like Mason, Oram has had a battle with injuries in recent years but as the tallest player to have played for the country, he stands at 2.01m, and has had reward for a greater concentration on his bowling technique in recent seasons.

He increased the speed of what had been previously a pedestrian form of bowling to be sharpish with the advantage of his great height to unsettle batsmen. The work on developing his concentration has also started to bear him fruit.

Oram first played for New Zealand in the home one-day series against Zimbabwe in 2000/01 and quickly fitted into the side and hit the winning runs in the deciding ODI against Pakistan at Carisbrook later in the season. He has twice been 12th man in previous Test sides.

A foot injury ruled him out of most of last season but he was a member of the side to Sri Lanka for the Champions Trophy in September.

"His selection follows huge progress in his bowling. He has brisk pace and his height makes for increased bounce which can prove awkward for batsmen in some conditions. He has been an impressive all-rounder for Central Districts this season with both the bat and ball," selection convener Sir Richard Hadlee said.

He has played 25 ODIs and has a strike-rate of 81.35 from the 336 runs he has scored. He has played 32 first-class games and has 1390 runs at 31.59 and 44 wickets at 22.54.

He also had reward for one of the more commanding batting performances of the early season when scoring 96 out of his side's 234 at Wanganui against Otago. He followed that with 52 not out in the second innings.

The full team is: Stephen Fleming (captain), Nathan Astle, Shane Bond, Robbie Hart, Craig McMillan, Michael Mason, Jacob Oram, Mark Richardson, Scott Styris, Daryl Tuffey, Daniel Vettori, Lou Vincent.

Unavailable for selection were Chris Cairns, who has been ruled out of both Test matches as he is to undergo keyhole surgery on his right knee on Tuesday to remove a piece of cartilage, Andre Adams, Shayne O'Connor and Ian Butler.

Cairns is expected to be available for selection for the one-day series starting in Auckland on Boxing Day.

Hadlee said the selectors were going into the two-Test series concerned about the lack of performance in the State Championship to date from the leading players in the country.

"We are backing experience and what we know by putting our faith in players who have performed at the top level.

"Mason is a bowler with good pace. He has been impressive in the current game taking three for 46 in the first innings v India and he swings ball away from right-handed batsmen," Hadlee said.

© CricInfo