JERMAINE LANNAMAN, STAR Writer

Jamaica Tallawahs head coach, Mickey Arthur, is pleased with the form of West Indies middle-order batsman Jermaine Blackwood, who last weekend helped the regional side gain a 1-1 Test series draw with England.

Blackwood, who entered the series with four Test matches to his credit, first scored his maiden Test hundred, 112 not out, in the second Test, before going making 85 and 47 not out in the third, which the West Indies won by five wickets.

He scored 311 runs in the series, the most of any West Indian batsman, and was third on the overall list behind England's Joe Root, 358, and Gary Ballance, 331.

His average of 77.75 was second overall behind Root's, 89.50, and ahead of Ballance's 62.20.

Stylish top-order batsman Darren Bravo was the next best West Indian on the runs listing with 237 runs at 39.50 for an overall position of fifth.

"One of my roles as coach of the Tallawahs is to ensure that I help develop good, young West Indian players," said Arthur.

"It is good to see Jermaine Blackwood playing excellently now, and one can only hope that he will continue to grow."

Blackwood has a natural attacking instinct. His knock of 85 runs came off 85 balls, and included 11 fours and four sixes at a strike rate of 96.59, but he has had below par returns in the shortest version of the game.

In his two seasons of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Twenty20, he played 13 matches for an average 10.50 with 28 being his highest score.

Arthur is set to join up with the Tallawahs as they prepare for the early-June start of season three of the CPL.

The Tallawahs, winners of the inaugural CPL in 2012, are set to open their 2015 campaign on June 23 against defending champions Barbados Tridents at Kensington Oval in Barbados.