How misses out

New Zealand's Jamie How has been struggling with his batting form in recent months

Jamie How has been dropped from the New Zealand side for the remaining two one-day internationals against West Indies.

How has been struggling with the bat and was out for a duck playing a hook shot in the third one-day international in Wellington on Wednesday which New Zealand won by seven wickets to level the series 1-1.

Auckland’s Martin Guptill has been called in to replace How for the matches in Auckland (January 10) and Napier (January 13).

The uncapped 22-year-old has been in good run-scoring form in the domestic competition and is currently fourth on the MVP batting rankings for the State Shield one-day competition, averaging 41 with a strike-rate of 103.

“Martin really impressed on the tours to Australia and India last year with the emerging players and New Zealand A,” said head of the New Zealand selection panel Glenn Turner.

“He’s continued that form this summer. Since coming back from injury at the start of the season he’s had a couple of great knocks including 124 off 97 balls for Auckland against Northern Districts and 58 from 66 balls against Otago.”

New Zealand coach Andy Moles said Guptill’s weight of runs at domestic level meant he had deserved his international chance.

“Jamie has missed out through lack of runs and the form of Guptill has brought him into the frame.

Martin Guptill has been brought in to replace How in the side for the last two one-dayers

“I have seen him (Guptill) play before and he is a promising and exciting young cricketer who we wish well.

“Unfortunately Jamie is finding ways to get out at the moment and the selectors have asked him to go away and get back into form and score plenty of runs at domestic level and force his way back in.

Moles added: “He is undoubtedly a fine, fine player. He’s just in a bit of poor form at the moment.I’m sure his form will come back very quickly.”

How’s only innings of note against West Indies has been a 54 in the second innings of the second Test in Napier.

He also struggled on the tour of Bangladesh and failed to fire in the two-Test series against Australia in November.

How will now return to his Central Districts province in a bid to find some form before the squad for the one-day series in Australia next month is announced.

All-rounder Jacob Oram will also miss the final two matches against West Indies after going into Wednesday’s game with an Achilles tendon problem.

He bowled just two overs at Westpac Stadium before being forced to leave the field but captain Daniel Vettori is hopeful Oram will be available again for Australia.

“I definitely hope he would be back by then but I am unsure of that,” he said.

New Zealand squad: Daniel Vettori (captain), Neil Broom, Grant Elliott, Daniel Flynn, Mark Gillespie, Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Jeetan Patel, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor.