India tormentor dropped as New Zealand unveil debutant to face England

New Zealand have confirmed seamer Nathan Smith will make his Test debut against England on Thursday, while the Player of the Series from their recent whitewash in India Will Young has been dropped.

While Tom Latham failed to divulge the exact playing XI his side will take into the opening match of the three-game ICC World Test Championship series against England, the New Zealand skipper did reveal Smith will win his first Test cap in the Christchurch contest after he beat fellow pacer Jacob Duffy for the role as fourth seamer.

World Test Championship Standings

The Kiwis' captain also confirmed that former skipper and No.2 ranked Test batter Kane Williamson will return from his groin injury for the first Test at Hagley Oval, with Young the unlucky batter to make way.

WATCH: New Zealand win inaugural World Test Championship Final

Young scored 244 runs and was named Player of the Series during New Zealand's recent 3-0 series whitewash in India last month, but Williamson's return to full fitness sees the right-hander drop out of the side as the Blackcaps try and win their way to a second World Test Championship Final.

"He (Young) played fantastically well over in India and did a great job for us, but unfortunately it's nothing on what Youngy has done over the last period of time," Latham said on Wednesday.

"Having someone like Kane come back in boosts your side with the calibre of player he is.

"He (Young) is a great team man and he has certainly done nothing wrong. It was a tough decision to make, but when you are in those positions you have to make the tough calls and it means your team is in a good spot.

"Gutted for Youngy, but excited with Kane coming back in."

New Zealand currently sit in fourth place on the World Test Championship standings and can earn a place in next year's one-off Test at Lord's with a 3-0 series whitewash over Ben Stokes' side.

Latham said the lure of reaching the final of the current World Test Championship cycle was not motivating his team and they were focused on playing their best cricket against England.

"If we get into that position of getting a chance (for the World Test Championship Final), then that's great, but I think that's a by-product of doing the things that we do well over a period of time," he said.

Smith meanwhile earns a Test debut on the back of some strong performances in domestic cricket in New Zealand in recent years and a steady start to his international career following two ODI appearances against Sri Lanka earlier this month.

Smith took 33 wickets at an average of 17.18 during last year's Plunket Shield season and the 26-yer-old has a first-class batting average of 27.02 across his career which boosts New Zealand's batting depth, according to Latham.

"He (Smith) is someone that can move the ball both ways in the air and hit the wicket reasonably hard," Latham added.

"I think he balances our bowling attack quite nicely with the other three guys and he can bat a little bit too which certainly helps the balance of our side."

Probable New Zealand XI: Tom Latham (c), Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell, Glenn Phillips, Nathan Smith, Matt Henry, Tim Southee, Will O’Rourke.