New Zealand have named uncapped pace bowler Brent Arnel in their squad to face India in the first of three Tests starting on March 18.

Injury-prone allrounder Jacob Oram has been left out due to concerns he is not fit enough for Test cricket. His place has been taken by James Franklin and opening bowler Chris Martin also returns following an injury lay-off.

Batsman Martin Guptill was called into the squad for the Hamilton Test for the first time after scoring 391 runs at an average of 48.87 in 11 one-day internationals since making his ODI debut in January.

Selection panel head Glenn Turner said Thursday that 30-year-old Arnel had earned his selection after being the best performing New Zealand A bowler in the series against the touring England Lions, the second-string Test side.

"He's bowled well consistently over a period of time, and has the advantage of having done quite a bit of bowling in recent four-day matches," Turner said.

Franklin returns to the Test side on the strength of his performances for New Zealand A -- especially with the bat -- after returning this season following a lengthy lay-off with a knee injury.

Oram has played in the ongoing one-day series against India but has struggled for form after coming back from a calf strain.

"He has made good progress in recovering from injury, but Jacob is not yet fully confident that his body would stand up to the rigours of a five-day game," Turner said.

Oram will play first class cricket instead and may be considered for later Tests in the series, he said.

New Zealand will take an unchanged squad into the fifth and final one-day international in Auckland on Saturday after India sealed the series 3-0 with a 10-wicket thrashing in the rain-shortened fourth game in Hamilton on Wednesday.

New Zealand first Test squad:

Daniel Vettori (captain), Brent Arnel, Daniel Flynn, James Franklin, Martin Guptill, Tim McIntosh, Brendon McCullum, Chris Martin, Kyle Mills, Iain O'Brien, Jeetan Patel, Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor.