Bay of Plenty's Kane Williamson and Trent Boult will be hoping they can convert their impressive test form into the One Day International arena as the Blackcaps look to end a 40-year duck and win the ICC Cricket World Cup.

The pair, along with Northern Knights teammates Corey Anderson, Tim Southee and Daniel Vettori, have all been included in coach Mike Hesson's 15-man squad ahead of their opening match against Sri Lanka on February 14 at Hagley Oval.

The 15 Blackcaps selected to represent New Zealand at this year's ICC Cricket World Cup. Photo: Supplied.

All bar Boult have been integral cogs in the side's short form of the game in recent years, with the pacemen's recent test form too hard to pass up in a squad offering up one or two bolters.

Experienced seamer Kyle Mills edges out Canterbury upcomer Matt Henry in the hotly contested bowling stakes for the four-yearly tournament while Wellington's Grant Elliott is the major talking point, usurping all-rounder Jimmy Neesham.

For Elliot the selection ahead of incumbent Neesham signals an end to 14 months in the domestic wilderness, with selectors citing his batting strength and experience in Australasian conditions as the deciding factors.

The 35-year-old played the last of his 51 ODIs in Sri Lanka in November 2013 and averages 30 with the bat and 27 with the ball in his international career. Yet he will be buoyed by a strong Twenty20 campaign for domestic champions Wellington, with bat and ball.

'Our batting unit has good depth and Grant's inclusion assures us strong cover in the middle order,” says Hesson. 'He brings a lot of experience and his record in New Zealand and Australia conditions is excellent.”

He admits there were some tough decisions, particularly in the bowling stocks, but it was all about finding the right balance.

'A lot of bowlers have performed brilliantly for us over the past couple of seasons, which certainly made it difficult, but we think we have the right mix,” he adds.

Young paceman Adam Milne makes the cut with his ability to accurately throw down thunderbolts of 150km/h while veteran spinner Vettori is expected to play a back-up role to offspinner Nathan McCullum.

The announcement means there is no room for fellow Knight's Dean Brownlie and Anton Devcich after the top-order duo were unable to force their way into the squad, despite some useful performances with the top team and New Zealand A last year.

Blackcaps ICC Cricket World Cup Squad:

Brendon McCullum (captain) – Otago Volts

Corey Anderson – Northern Knights

Trent Boult – Northern Knights

Grant Elliott – Wellington Firebirds

Martin Guptill – Auckland Aces

Tom Latham – Canterbury

Mitchell McClenaghan – Auckland Aces

Nathan McCullum – Otago Volts

Kyle Mills – Auckland Aces

Adam Milne – Central Stags

Luke Ronchi – Wellington Firebirds

Tim Southee – Northern Knights

Ross Taylor – Central Stags

Dan Vettori – Northern Knights

Kane Williamson – Northern Knights