The West Indies have, relatively speaking, been in the cricket doldrums for the better part of a decade, but the 2019 World Cup should offer a chance at new hope for the Carribean cricketing paradise.
West Indies World Cup squad
Jason Holder (capt), Andre Russell, Ashley Nurse, Carlos Brathwaite, Chris Gayle, Darren Bravo, Evin Lewis, Fabian Allen, Kemar Roach, Nicholas Pooran, Oshane Thomas, Shai Hope, Shannon Gabriel, Sheldon Cottrell, Shimron Hetmyer
This is a squad full of talent, but one full of questions that can only be answered on a match-by-match basis.
With players like Chris Gayle and Andre Russell, every single opposition should be mightily scared when it comes to facing them.
Shai Hope is a key man for the West Indies at the 2019 World Cup. (Photo by Randy Brooks / AFP / Getty Images)
Their attack won’t be half bad either, led by guys like Jason Holder and Kemar Roach, who are starting to fall into the experienced bracket. However, it’s bowling which has let them down over the last 12 months.
Strengths
As mentioned, it’s guys like Gayle and Russell who you go straight to with this squad as their strength.
It’s hard to call their batting an outright strength, because there is still so much margin for error and the likelihood of failure so prevalent.
But if they, along with others like Carlos Brathwaite and Evin Lewis, can put it together on the same day, there is no reason they can’t score in excess of 400 against any team they come up against. Each and every team should be concerned with the Windies’ raw power.
Pace bowling also has to go down as a strength, even if the averages aren’t setting the world on fire.
Holder, Roach, Shannon Gabriel and Oshane Thomas are likely to make up the first choice attack, with the quartet all boasting a good mix of accuracy and pace on their day.
That, of course, is also the advantage of having Holder. He bats in the top six, allowing them to play an extra bowler.
Weaknesses
While Ashley Nurse has actually been the top wicket-taker for the West Indies over the last 12 months, it’s hard to see him having the same impact in English conditions.
In fact, the entire bowling effort hasn’t really been good enough. Nurse has averaged 46 but, while the quicks have the potential, none of them are setting the world on fire numbers-wise.
Their spin bowling stocks are also pretty weak, and that will come back to bite them throughout a tournament where pace off the ball might be the key.
Consistency is the other big problem. Whether it’s batting, bowling, or fielding, things just feel like they could go wrong at any point.
That, of course, is the way the Windies play their cricket – with aggression and want to dominate their opposition.
But it doesn’t always work; when the talent level isn’t there, it’s just not there, as could be the case in a couple of games throughout the tournament when they simply don’t turn up.
It could be a frustrating tournament for their fans, sprinkled with a number of bright moments which undoubtedly will not be forgotten for a long time.
Key player: Chris Gayle
There are so many players who could be classed as the key men to the World Cup campaign for the West Indies, but when you look at this side, it’s going to require regularly good performances from their X-factor players.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Andre Russell, Evin Lewis and Carlos Brathwaite will all be expected to go big, but in terms of experience and clean striking on the biggest stage of them all, no one comes close to Gayle.
On these small English grounds, if he gets going, he is going to be very hard to stop. Him being at the top of the order can make life a lot easier for his teammates to follow.
Gayle can be hit or miss, but a career strike rate of almost 90 in ODI cricket for over 10,000 runs is a good sign of exactly what he is able to do, with a handful of half-centuries in the IPL proving he is still in good enough touch.
The verdict: The dark horse
The West Indies team could cause an upset in this tournament. A huge one.
Truth be told, I can see them sneaking into the top four, and then from there, in one-off knock-out games, absolutely anything could be possible in the push to the finish line.
We have them to just miss out, but don’t sleep on the powerful Carribean team.
Prediction: Fifth
1 3th Man
Guest
Can't see the Windies being consistent enough to challenge for the title. They'll cause the odd upset, hopefully against England, but I wouldn't bank on them making the semis. Gayle will hit one awesome ton against one of the minnow sides and then will go missing for the rest of the tournament.
VivGilchrist
Roar Rookie
Russell like Bravo and Pollard has an inflated reputation as all 3 go around beating up domestic bowlers in 20 over slog fests. By international standards, he’s an average player.
AREH
Roar Guru
Their X-factor and raw power was enough to surprise many and win a World event in 2016 - but you're talking about some of the best T20 guns on the planet in their best format. You never quite know with these guys - capable of anything on their day but most unpredictable. Not sure it will be enough to go all the way in the 50-over format though.
Brian
Guest
They did manage 2-2 against England without Russell. Honestly it would not surprise me if they come 9th or 10th. I would even call it likely. However their potential upside is higher then any of the bottom teams including Pakistan. On their day they could beat any side
Josh H
Roar Rookie
Without a doubt, he's been excellent He and Holder are carrying the otherwise mediocre team to be honest, maybe with a couple of glimpses of talent from Hetmyer
The Bush
Roar Guru
I agree, I can't see them getting as high as fifth or being a serious contender for a semi-final spot. The six best teams are ENG, IND, NZD, AUS, PAK and RSA. Windies are around that 7 mark as you say. The only difference between the Windies and say BAN, AFG or SRI is that the Windies have some small potential to pull of an upset or two in the round-robin stage. But it won't be enough to get them through to the semis.
The Bush
Roar Guru
I thought it was odd that Hope didn't get a mention... he's probably been their best player recently.
Gurlivleen Grewal
Roar Pro
Can't say who among Bang, WI would finish 7th. So there's a difference of opinion with the author. While WI has a better chance of causing an upset, they are more likely to have an off game against the bottom 3 too, balancing it out. Braithwate - I don't expect him to be in the team very often, let alone have a big impact. 100 runs and 3 wickets will be a big deal. Their bowling is woeful, with scope of brilliance - say Oshane Thomas/Gabriel ripping up 3/4 on the bounce. No spin bowling to speak off. To back this up, their ground fielding is quite poor too. How would they win 5/6 games to sneak into top 4? Gayle, Lewis, Hope, Hetmeyer, Pooran, Russel, Holder, Nurse, Roach, Thomas, Gabriel. It will take them some time to even discover this group - they will play Cotrell and Bravo instead. Yes, the batting has "hope" but the bowling and fielding would make up for any one-off brilliance. Their best shot is against NZ, Ind and Eng, unfortunately, they would be playing these teams deep into the tournament. Let's see how they go against Pak in their opening game.
Neel
Roar Guru
They can pull of an upset for sure. Winning the tournament, though? Most unlikely. Other key players, Hetmyer and Hope. 100% right about the bowling, they really need to fire for the Windies to win.
Josh H
Roar Rookie
Usually I enjoy and am in agreeance with most of your pieces Scott, but this one has to take exception. West Indies should go absolutely nowhere near the semis, barring a monumental fluke. Yeah, they have a couple of X-Factor players in Gayle and Russell, but Gayle's technique will be pulverised by good bowling attacks (you said it yourself, Gayle's hit and miss), and Russell, while damaging with the bat, hasn't been at his bowling best since the last WT20. You know who their best player actually is? Shai Hope, their wicketkeeper/opening batsman. If the West Indies get anywhere near the semis, I can guarantee they will have him to thank. Scott, you can't count on a couple of inconsistent X-Factor players to pull a rabbit out of a hat for an entire competition. They may win you 1, maybe 2 games? Sure. But not a tournament.
Riccardo
Roar Rookie
Another good piece Scott. Your point about the slower bowlers resonates for me. None of their pacemen are consistent enough IMO. Would have thought Holder may be as vital as Gayle to any chance they may have however. Looking forward to how you break down the top four, especially the Black Caps.