New Zealand captain Kane Williamson has been ruled out of the two-match Test series against South Africa in Christchurch.

The 31-year-old has failed to recover from an elbow injury, Black Caps coach Gary Stead said on Tuesday.

Stead named Tom Latham as stand-in skipper in a 15-man squad that features two debutants in wicketkeeper Cam Fletcher and paceman Blair Tickner.

Batsman Hamish Rutherford was also recalled after seven years in the Test wilderness, while all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme returns after shaking off a recent form slump.

Stead said Williamson was “desperate” to participate in the two-Test series against the Proteas, but had not recovered sufficiently from an elbow injury that sidelined him late last year.

“The priority has to be trying to get the injury right and having him available long term,” he said.

Seamer Trent Boult will also miss the first Test starting in Christchurch on 17 February as he awaits the birth of his third child.

New Zealand squad: Tom Latham (c), Tom Blundell, Devon Conway, Colin de Grandhomme, Cam Fletcher, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Rachin Ravindra, Hamish Rutherford, Tim Southee, Blair Tickner, Neil Wagner, Will Young.

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Photo: John Cowpland / www.photosport.nz