Lou Vincent has spoken out about his omission from the New Zealand team to face the West Indies in the first Test this week.

When announcing the squad on Sunday, coach John Bracewell explained Vincent had been left out of the side because he was reluctant to open the batting.

Bracewell said: "Lou continually said himself that he didn't see himself as an opener and would prefer to bat in the middle order. We weren't prepared to play guys who were reluctant."

Test debutant Jamie How and Hamish Marshall were instead called up to open the batting, but Vincent insists his comments have been taken out of context by Bracewell.

Vincent told The New Zealand Herald: "It was just a preference, I wasn't insisting on anything. I'd love to play for New Zealand as much as anyone.

"I'd play anywhere in the team - I don't think there's ever been any doubt over that. I can't understand it. I just want to play the game.

Vincent is now focusing on the birth of his first child rather than anticipating a return to the Black Caps fold.

The team play a Test series in South Africa next month to finish their season while their next one-day matches come in November's ICC Champions Trophy in India.

He said: "My partner's expecting in five weeks and that's nice to have going on. But I just don't know what to make of it. It's right out there.

"The way I'm feeling at the moment, speaking my mind probably isn't a good idea. Maybe I'll settle down in a day or two but, right now, I can hardly think straight."

His Auckland coach Mark O'Donnell, Bracewell's former assistant and New Zealand A team boss, was also surprised.

He said: "Lou might have expressed a preference but knowing what he's like, he would have walked over broken glass to bat anywhere - he's that sort of fella.

"In a lot of ways, he's at his peak. He's 27 years old and has already been through the hoops. He's had to cope with failure, work his way back into favour, and over time figure out a method that would prove successful at Test level.

"I think he's pretty close to achieving that, really."

The first Test of the three-match series against the Windies begins at Eden Park, Auckland on Thursday.