2nd Test: West Indies v New Zealand at Port of Spain

start grooming some new openers

West Indies cricket selectors have made two changes to their batting line-up ahead of the second Test against New Zealand, beginning on Tuesday at Queen's Park Oval.

Following the batting failures which contributed to a 186-run defeat inside four days in last week's first Test in Jamaica, the selectors have summoned uncapped batsmen Jermaine Blackwood and Leon Johnson at the expense of opener Kieran Powell and experienced middle-order man Marlon Samuels.

Blackwood, a 22-year-old Jamaican right-hander, has averaged 40.38 in first-class cricket over the past three seasons and finished the 2014 campaign for his island strongly with innings of 94 and 118 in the regional final against the Windward Islands in St Lucia.

Johnson has some senior international experience, featuring in a three-nation One-Day International tournament against Bermuda and hosts Canada in Toronto in 2008.

The 26-year-old Guyanese left-hander averages 33.18 from 50 first-class matches since making his national debut as a teenager in 2004.

Both have previously represented the West Indies at under-19 level.

Samuels, the 33-year-old veteran of 52 Tests, pays the price for failing to score in both innings at Sabina Park, his first "pair" in Test cricket.

Powell managed only 28 and 0, leading to his being dropped, especially with another opener, Kraigg Brathwaite (10 Tests, average 21.84), in the squad.

Both newcomers are expected to play, with pressure on the West Indies to square the series ahead of the third and final Test in Barbados, beginning June 26.

New Zealand are likely to be unchanged in Port of Spain following the victory in Kingston, only their second Test match victory on six tours to the Caribbean.

Test squads

West Indies: Denesh Ramdin (captain), Chris Gayle, Kraigg Brathwaite, Kirk Edwards, Darren Bravo, Jermaine Blackwood, Leon Johnson, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Kemar Roach, Jerome Taylor, Sulieman Benn, Shane Shillingford, Jason Holder, Shannon Gabriel.

New Zealand: Brendon McCullum (captain), Tom Latham, Peter Fulton, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Jimmy Neesham, B.J. Watling, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Mark Craig, Trent Boult, Corey Anderson, Hamish Rutherford, Luke Ronchi, Neil Wagner.

AFP

The West Indies cricket selectors have made two changes to their batting line-up ahead of the second Test against New Zealand, starting on Tuesday in Trinidad and Tobago.

Following the batting failures which contributed to a 186-run defeat inside four days in last week's first Test in Jamaica, the selectors have named uncapped batsmen Jermaine Blackwood and Leon Johnson.

Their inclusion comes at the expense of opener Kieran Powell and experienced middle-order man Marlon Samuels.

Blackwood, a 22-year-old Jamaican right-hander, has averaged 40.38 in first-class cricket over the past three seasons.

Johnson has some senior international experience, featuring in a three-nation One-Day International tournament against Bermuda and hosts Canada in Toronto in 2008.

The 26-year-old Guyanese left-hander averages 33.18 from 50 first-class matches since making his national debut as a teenager in 2004.

Both have previously represented the West Indies at under-19 level.

Samuels, the 33-year-old veteran of 52 Tests, pays the price for failing to score in both innings at Sabina Park, his first "pair" in Test cricket.

Powell managed only 28 and 0, leading to his being dropped.

Both newcomers are expected to play, with pressure on the West Indies to square the series ahead of the third and final Test in Barbados.

New Zealand are likely to be unchanged in Port of Spain following the victory in Kingston, only their second Test match victory on six tours to the Caribbean.

Wait, are Blackwood and Leon (!) replacing Samuels and Powell in the squad or the XI? I hope it's the squad.
Would think that Simmons should be a certainty at this point. And looks like Blackwell's gonna make debut too.

Yeah I'm not convinced he'd do well there. And he did score a fifty last match anyway in the first innings. Not great, but in context not terrible either.

Also IDK who exactly you have in mind that could do well as  a replacement as far as grooming goes?

well..running away from Charminder Vass one time Gayle dropped himself down to #6 and scored a fifty. 

Vass had him in knots so he dived down the order and die good.  so he can bat at 6.  consistent fiftys at 6 at this stage is good from Gayle.  help Chanders to go on

he can do dat down there

Darren Bravo bowling first in the first hour of a Test match was strange, and so, too, was the use of Samuels before Shillingford.

Fulton dropped from the NZ line up for the 2nd test..

Yep ....totally useless.

Dropped Powell in the 1st Innings ...a Sitter.

Then contributed 2 ducks...

Where is Guyana Amazon Warrior : Martin Guptil ?  :-\

Guptill has flawed technique when it comes to test, and he's been largely a disappointment. But if they were sticking with Fulton, might as well have done with Guptill.
I'm thinking perhaps Rutherford will replace him now.