Jesse Ryder and Doug Bracewell were given the axe after the duo was fined by the New Zealand Cricket Board for drinking late into the night just ahead of the first Test against India, with Tom Latham and James Neesham the benefactors.
Latham and Neesham have been added to the squad ahead of the second Test which starts on Friday, with both in line for a Test debut if given a call up.
However, the chances of New Zealand making any changes to the playing XI that beat India by 40 runs in the first Test remains pretty low, but the New Zealand Cricket Board were left with little choice than to replace Ryder and Bracewell following their booze binge.
"The New Zealand selectors place great emphasis on qualities such as personal responsibility, trustworthiness and dependability," NZC head of cricketing operations Lindsay Crocker said.
"All players in contention for the Black Caps need to satisfy the selectors of their commitment to prepare conscientiously for international fixtures."
Neesham has been brought in to replace Bracewell, and although the former is not exactly a like-for-like for the latter, New Zealand Cricket's general manager of national selection Bruce Edgar believes the all-rounder, who was a part of the ODI squad and played in the last couple of matches against India, has the capabilities to slot right into the team if necessary.
"We see Jimmy as a genuine all-rounder who can play a number of roles for us. His form with both bat and ball in the Plunket Shield this season speaks for itself," Edgar told NZC's official website.
"We've been able to keep a settled side recently and strung together some successful results along the way. We hope to keep that going, but are well aware India will come back at us hard."
Latham has played 13 one-day internationals and seven T20Is for New Zealand so far in his career and replaces Ryder, who was in the squad as a backup to Ross Taylor.
"Tom's an incredibly exciting prospect and is constantly pushing for selection," Edgar added. "If called upon, we're confident that he'll take the opportunity with both hands."
