Holder backs struggling Blackwood to return to scoring form

West Indies captain Jason Holder has thrown his weight behind Jermaine Blackwood, insisting that the misfiring batsman will shrug off his wretched run of form if he retains his place for the second Test against India at Sabina Park on Saturday.

"I haven't picked the team as yet," Holder was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo. "Jermaine has done well for us in the last few seasons. But I support him, I back him 100%. If he is given a chance to continue, I hope he will go and put out a good performance. He has got a Test century and has done well against some of the best bowling attacks. Everybody goes through a rough patch. It's just about him turning it around."

Despite struggling to open his account in four of his last seven Test innings, Blackwood had earlier said he remained upbeat about reversing his miserable form in front of his home crowd.

The 24-year-old aggressive batsman, whose poor run of form started since last year's tour of Australia, was dismissed for nought in both innings of his team's innings and 92-run defeat in the opening Test against India at North Sound, Antigua.

Meanwhile, West Indies head coach Phil Simmons said his young brigade have the capability to stage a strong comeback in the ongoing four-match Test series against India.

"You don't look for excuses, you look for reasons why you do things wrong and the reason is that we didn't bowl well and we didn't bat well. So we have to do both of them well and we can't ask for anything else," Simmons said.