New Zealand pick uncapped Guptill

Uncapped opening batsman Martin Guptill has been named in a 12-man New Zealand squad for the final two one-day internationals against West Indies.

The 22-year-old replaces the out-of-form Jamie How, dismissed for a duck in New Zealand's win in the third match.

All-rounder Jacob Oram has also been released from the squad so that he can recover from injury.

The series is tied at 1-1 heading into the final matches in Auckland (10 January) and Napier (13 January).

Guptill, who recently scored 124 off 97 balls for Auckland against Northern Districts, was the highest scorer in New Zealand's one-day domestic competition last season, scoring 596 runs at an average of 59.6.

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Glenn Turner, head of the selection panel, said: "Martin really impressed on the tours to Australia and India last year with the Emerging Players and New Zealand A.

"He's continued that form this summer since coming back from injury at the start of the season."

Turner added that How would return to domestic cricket to "hopefully find the form we know he's capable of".

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.

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