New Zealand has announced a 13-member squad for the home two-Test series against Bangladesh. The first game will kick start from 31st December at Mount Maunganui while the second match of the series will be played at Christchurch from 8th January. 

Tom Latham will lead the side in place of Kane Willamson who has been ruled out of the Test due to his persistent elbow issues. 

Devon Conway, who missed the Test series against India, has recovered from the hand injury and has been named in the squad while Ajaz Patel, who recently scripted history by taking all 10 wickets in a Test innings against India in Mumbai, misses out from the squad. 

Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell are the two all-rounders in the squad while the rest of the team is pretty similar to the one that toured India. 

New Zealand head coach Gary Stead said that they are excited to play at their home and at venues where they have had success in recent times. 

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He expressed his disappointment regarding Kane Williamson’s unavailability for the series due to injury, saying that the Black Caps skipper is undergoing a sustained period of rest which will be followed by rehabilitation, strengthening and gradual batting load. 

Stead further lauded Tom Latham, saying that the southpaw has done an excellent job in the past when called upon. 

"It's great to be back home and at venues, we know well, and where we've had success in recent times. It's obviously disappointing not to have Kane available for this series but, as we noted in India, he is undergoing a sustained period of rest followed by rehabilitation, strengthening, and gradual batting load. 

“We have every confidence in Tom leading the side - he's done an excellent job in the past when called upon," New Zealand head coach Gary Stead said in an official release.

Here’s the New Zealand squad for the Test series against Bangladesh: 

Tom Latham (c), Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, Will Young

(ANI Inputs)