Sinclair has two Test double centuries to his name

He joins fellow batsman Craig Cumming and pace bowlers Michael Mason and Ian O'Brien in a 13-man squad for the game.

But seamer Kyle Mills misses out with a knee injury and batsman Hamish Marshall has been omitted because of poor form.

The Christchurch opener will be followed by another Test in Wellington, starting on 15 December, two Twenty20 games and five one-day internationals.

Sinclair, who made 214 on his Test debut against the West Indies in 1999, has been overlooked since playing against Australia in Adelaide in November 2004.

We are rewarding guys who have been successful in the early rounds of the domestic competition John Bracewell

Opener Cumming played the last of his five Tests against Sri Lanka in April 2005.

Kiwi coach John Bracewell said the returning players had been rewarded for consistent performances in first-class cricket.

"Sinclair and Cumming have been the form batsmen. In the end, it came down to a sheer weight of runs compared with the other possible candidates," he explained.

"O'Brien has been the form bowler, especially his performances on very good batting strips, and Mason's efforts have been very encouraging.

"We are rewarding guys who have been successful in the early rounds of the domestic competition."