Blackwood, Johnson replace Samuels, Powell

Port of Spain, June 15 (IANS/CMC) The West Indies have called up in-form Jamaican stroke-maker Jermaine Blackwood to the 13-man squad for the second Test against New Zealand starting here Monday.

The 22-year-old is one of the two changes with Guyana left-hander Leon Johnson also included for the June 16-20 encounter at the Queen's Park Oval. Blackwood and Johnson replace experienced batsman Marlon Samuels and left-handed opener Kieran Powell, both of whom are struggling for form.

Samuels scored two ducks in the West Indies' 186-run defeat in the first Test at Sabina Park in Jamaica while Powell was unconvincing in scoring 28 and nought.

The 24-year-old Powell has averaged just 19 in his last eight Tests and has not passed 50 in nearly two years.

Samuels has also struggled of late and managed just 125 runs from six innings in the wretched tour of New Zealand. His 'pair' last week meant he has now failed to score in three of his last four innings.

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

--IANS/CMC

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