Devon Conway will make his test debut in the Blackcaps' series opener against England at Lord's, captain Kane Williamson confirmed on Wednesday.
After a breakout home summer, 29-year-old Conway will make his first appearance as a test player, having taken to one day international and T20 international cricket with aplomb.
The elegant left-hander shone opening the batting alongside Tom Latham in the Blackcaps' intrasquad warm-up match, making an unbeaten 55 runs.
Blackcaps captain Williamson says Conway has earned his chance to add test cricket to his CV, after impressing in his early outings as a New Zealand international.
Conway will almost certainly open the batting alongside Latham, with other contenders Will Young, Tom Blundell and Rachin Ravindra not named in the final 12.
"A really exciting opportunity for Devon, being involved with the team over the last year in the white-ball formats and gone extremely well.
"He's an experienced player as well who's played a lot of first-class cricket and batted in all the different positions and gets his opportunity to make his debut at the home of cricket."
Conway averages more than 60 in first-class cricket for Wellington, and a touch under 50 (47.21) overall.
Williamson also says Blackcaps selectors will face a tough choice as to which all-rounder they could select for the first test, with Mitchell Santner and Colin de Grandhomme appearing to be vying for one spot.
Santner is the only spinner in the 12, with Ajaz Patel and Ravindra left out.
"We've got a couple of all-rounders, de Grandhomme and Santner, and in recent games at home we've opted for extra seamers so it's just trying to find that balance after assessing the pitch.
"The weather has taken a pretty quick turn from cold and wet to pretty hot and dry so we'll wait and see."
Fellow all-rounders Daryl Mitchell and Ravindra will not feature, having not been confirmed in the final 12 to face England at Lord's.
Tim Southee, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry and Neil Wagner are the four seam bowling options in the playing squad for the first test, giving the Blackcaps the prospect of a pace-quartet.
Blackcaps (one to be omitted): Kane Williamson (c), Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Matt Henry.
