New Zealand pace bowler Smith to make debut in first England Test

CHRISTCHURCH, NOV 27: New Zealand put their historic 3-0 series win in India behind them Wednesday as they selected pace bowler Nathan Smith to make his debut against England in the first Test.

The 26-year-old Smith will start his Test career on the seam-friendly Hagley Oval pitch in Christchurch, far removed from the Indian playing surfaces where spin dominated. 

New Zealand captain Tom Latham confirmed that a fit-again Kane Williamson would return for the Test beginning Thursday, meaning there was no room in the batting line-up for Will Young, who was the player-of-the-series in India. 
Latham described the India series as "an amazing couple of weeks" but added, "that's in the past".

The captain said his side had belief in themselves after inflicting India's first home Test series defeat since 2012 and winning for the first time on the sub-continent.     —AFP