WELLINGTON: Opening batsman Jamie How has paid the price for an extended run of poor form and been dropped from the New Zealand cricket squad for the last two one-day internationals against the West Indies.

He has been replaced by international newcomer Martin Guptill, a 22-year-old right-hand batsman who has been in strong form for his first class team Auckland.

Also missing from the squad is allrounder Jacob Oram, whose run of injuries was added to Wednesday when he limped from the field with an Achilles tendon injury after bowling just two overs in the seven wicket thrashing of the West Indies in Wellington.

Head of the New Zealand selection panel Glenn Turner said Thursday that How would return to domestic cricket to try to play himself back into form.

Turner said Guptill has been in consistent high-scoring form, averaging 41 in the domestic first class one-day competition this season.

"Martin really impressed on the tours to Australia and India last year with the Emerging Players and New Zealand A," said Turner, adding the batsman had continued his strong form this season.

The one-day series between New Zealand and the West Indies is locked at one each with two matches left to play in Auckland on Saturday and in Napier on Tuesday.

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.