West Indies in need of redemption song
West Indies come into the World Cup looking to redeem a reputation tarnished by the events of 2014 but the absence of key players, and a new leadership, still pose a challenge
World Cup pedigree
X-factor
Players in focus
Fact box
Previous World Cups
1975: Winners
1979: Winners
1983: Finalists
1987: Group stage
1992: Group stage
1996: Semi-final
1999: Group stage
2003: Group stage
2007: Super Eights
2011: Quarter-final
Squad
Jason Holder (capt), Marlon Samuels (v-c), Sulieman Benn, Darren Bravo, Jonathan Carter, Sheldon Cottrell, Chris Gayle, Nikita Miller, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Darren Sammy, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith, Jerome Taylor
Fixtures
February 16 - v Ireland, Nelson
February 21 - v Pakistan, Christchurch
February 24 - v Zimbabwe, Canberra
February 27 - v South Africa, Sydney
March 6 - v India, Perth
March 15 - v UAE, Napier
A veteran of three World Cups, Gayle is still the side's premier batsman at the age of 35. A superstar of the T20 game, Gayle is equally important to West Indies in the 50-over format. No West Indies batsman has scored more ODI centuries than his 21. He has not, however, done his heaviest scoring at World Cups and has just one century - against Kenya - to show for his three campaigns. Injuries have also become an area of concern for Gayle in recent years and in 2014, he underwent surgery on his back. Once he is fit enough to get to the crease however, Gayle's runs will be crucial to any progress West Indies make in the tournament.
Marlon Samuels was one of the key factors behind West Indies' World T20 triumph in 2012. At his best, he is the most accomplished batsman in the side but his best has not been on show come as consistently as either he or West Indies would like. On his return to the team in the series against India, after having been dropped earlier in the year, Samuels reeled off two centuries in three matches, including one in the fourth ODI of the series when matters off the field were in turmoil. It is that kind of focus and single-mindedness that his team will require in the World Cup, along with his economical off spin which can also take an important wicket or two. Being named vice-captain to Holder may also give the Jamaican a sense of purpose he hasn't always seemed to have in his career.
At six foot seven, and nearly as tall as legendary fast bowler Joel Garner, Jason Holder has some big shoes to fill. He was unexpectedly entrusted with the captaincy in difficult circumstances and at a stage when his career has not quite taken off as a bowling all-rounder. The ODI series against South Africa was Holder's only preparation for the World Cup and cricket's biggest tournament will prove a fiery baptism. Credited with a shrewd cricket brain, Holder will have to rely on his thinking ability, developing skills as a seamer and useful lower-order hitting to convince his team-mates that he can lead.
Game style
Prediction
World Cup stats
- West Indies have won just ten of their last 21 World Cup matches, starting from the 2003 World Cup. Two of those wins - against South Africa (2003) and Pakistan (2007) - have come against countries ranked above them in the ODI rankings.
- Only twice since reaching the final in 1983 have West Indies entered the quarterfinals of the World Cup - in 1996 and 2011.
If they were an actor
Theme Song
Garth Wattley is a writer with the Trinidad Express