Perhaps the dark horses of the competition, the truth is that no-one really know how the West Indies will fare. Languishing at 7th in the ICC ODI rankings, they have the players to beat any side in the world as they showed when they won the World T20 last year.

(20th May 2013)

Perhaps the dark horses of the competition, the truth is that no-one really know how the West Indies will fare. Languishing at 7th in the ICC ODI rankings, they have the players to beat any side in the world as they showed when they won the World T20 last year. Placed in a tough group alongside Pakistan, India and South Africa, they will need their big players to step up to the plate straight away. New captain Dwayne Bravo has a tough task to get his side into the semi-finals, but write the West Indies off at your peril.

Strengths

One of the key strengths is that the squad contains players with the potential to change the game in an instant. Chris Gayle is arguably even more dangerous in ODIs than in T20s, as he has the luxury of playing himself in before exploding later on. If he fails at the top, there is no shortage of hitters at the bottom with Bravo, Darren Sammy, and of course Kieron Pollard capable of providing impetus at the death. The experienced head of Ramnaresh Sarwan is also there to control the middle overs.

Perhaps West Indies' biggest strength however, is their togetherness as a team. No-one will forget the celebrations at the end of the last World T20 in Sri Lanka, there was genuine happiness for the players from fans of cricket all over the world. If they click as they did then, we may be talking about a new dance move come the end of the tournament.

Weaknesses

Kemar Roach, Ravi Rampaul and Tino Best are the fast bowlers in the squad, and although talented, are unlikely to give batsmen sleepless nights. With other teams expecting their quicks to thoroughly exploit the English conditions, this may be an area which lets the West Indies down.

The worry for the West Indies will be an over-reliance on Chris Gayle. If he falls early, it will be interesting to see how some of the less experienced players handle the pressure, particularly during a large chase.


Players to Watch Out For

Chris Gayle

We all know what to expect from Gayle, but as mentioned above, ODIs are the ideal format for him. Time to play himself in and still could score faster than any other player in the tournament. Whilst the IPL may not be the the biggest challenge for him, he has shown he is in some seriously good six-hitting form. Brett Lee bore the brunt of a Gayle Force assault when West Indies opened up their T20 World Cup campaign in England in 2009 at the Oval. Will a Pakistani bowler be the victim this time on 7th June at the same venue?

Darren Sammy

The Test and T20 captain has been replaced in this format by Dwayne Bravo, perhaps rather unfairly. Many suggest that Sammy would not have made the playing XI in recent times if he wasn't captain, but his inspirational leadership and useful contributions have been a key factor in the recent revival of West Indies cricket. He will have a point to prove, and his canny medium pacers and death hitting could be very effective in England.

Sunil Narine

The biggest threat in the bowling department will be the mystery spin of Sunil Narine. He averages 21 after 28 ODIs with an economy under four, and will no doubt be a daunting prospect for the opposition batsmen if he gets it right.

How far can they go?

The opening game of the tournament against Pakistan could be a key indicator of their progress. Win that, and I fancy West Indies to make the semis, from where anything is possible. Momentum is always important in global tournaments, and if things fall into place, we may just see a repeat of the last T20 World Cup with West Indies going all the way.

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