Kane Williamson has confirmed that Devon Conway, the top-order batter, will make his Test debut in the first match of the LV=Insurance Test series against England at Lord's.
Conway, the 29-year-old South African-born player, has been preferred to Tom Blundell or Will Young and will open the batting alongside Tom Latham.
Conway has made an outstanding start to his international career. After three ODIs, he is averaging 75 and made a maiden international century in his most recent game, while in T20Is, he is averaging 59.12 with an impressive strike-rate of 151.11 having twice been left undefeated in the 90s, including an unbeaten 99 against Australia in Christchurch.
"It's a really exciting opportunity for Devon," Williamson, the New Zealand captain, said. "He's been involved with the team over the last year in the white-ball formats and done extremely well.
"He's an experienced player. He's played a lot of first-class cricket and he gets his opportunity to make his debut at the home of cricket."
New Zealand have narrowed their options down to a 12-man squad ahead of the game. The final selection will come down to a choice between the spin of Mitchell Santner and the extra seamer in Matt Henry or Colin de Grandhomme, though the warm weather in London in recent days would appear to have improved Santner's chances.
"There's a lot of hot weather around and the pitch seems to be changing fairly quickly," Williamson said. "We'll leave the final XI until tomorrow."
George Dobell is a senior correspondent at ESPNcricinfo
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