Black Caps have dusted cobwebs: Guptill

Opening batsman Martin Guptill is confident the Blacks Caps have dusted off the cobwebs as they prepare for their five-match one-day cricket series against the West Indies in the Caribbean.

Before heading to Jamaica for the opening ODI on Friday (NZT), the sides met in two Twenty20 internationals in Florida, with the West Indies completing comprehensive victories by 56 and 61 runs.

The matches were New Zealand's first since March and Guptill believes that could have been a factor in the tourists' performances.

"That might have taken its toll," he said on Wednesday.

"But we've been together for a week now and hopefully the time together again has really got everyone back on their feet."

Guptill said the Black Caps were looking to "right the wrongs" of those two results.

Their target for the one-day series was to win, not just to compete.

He had faith in the squad's ability to overcome their injury woes, with skipper Ross Taylor doubtful for the ODIs and possibly the two Tests to follow, after damaging a shoulder in the first T20 and allrounder Jacob Oram jarring a knee in the same match.

Meanwhile, another experienced campaigner in top-order batsman Brendon McCullum is absent after the selectors asked him to take a break during the short-form component of the tour.

"I guess without Brendon and Ross in the side, we lose a bit of that experience," Guptill said.

"We've got a young batting line-up, but the guys are picked for a reason and they can step up at any time when required."