Windies in their sails?

The West Indies have always been one of the powerhouses of the modern game, from their fantastic teams of the seventies and eighties through to world class players in more modern times, including the likes of Brian Lara, Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose.

The Windies were the first team to win a World Cup, and along with Australia the only team to have won it twice. Since the retirement of the legendary Viv Richards in the early nineties the Windies have never quite been the same, but over the last year a crop of new youngsters has emerged that look likely to bring the Windies back to their former glory.

I believe those players have come just too late, and I don’t expect the Windies to go past the Super Six phase, but this World Cup is the start for the new Windies, and if they can play well amd then build on their team they will be a major force to reckon with come the next World Cup.

South Africans will not have pleasant memories of facing West Indies in a World Cup – when the two squared off in the 1992 World Cup it was just 17 days before the national referendum to decide whether to allow black people the vote, and Windies captain Richie Richardson got into a lot of trouble back home for referring to the game as “just another match”. There was a lot of racial pride riding on that game, and the Windies were roundly thrashed by South Africa.

The next World Cup (in 1996) brought Brian Lara and Revenge. South Africa had beaten everyone in their path on the way to the quarter-final, during which Gary Kirsten made the world record highest ODI innings of 188* against UAE, which still stands today as the highest innings ever made in a World Cup.

But in the quarter-final Lara scored a brilliant 111 to take the Windies to victory, and once again South Africa went home early.

The Windies then went through some dark years, including losing a Test series at home to South Africa, but towards the end of 2002 they played a seven-match ODI series in India and won it 4-3. These victories were largely inspired by explosive upper-order batting, in the form of Chris Gayle and Wavell Hinds, with others like Carl Hooper and Ramnaresh Sarwan joining in the runs fest.

New quick bowlers like Jermaine Lawson, Pedro Collins, Corey Colleymore and Vasbert Drakes emerged, and suddenly the Windies are looking a far better side than in recent years. The recall of Drakes (who was largely forgotten, playing his cricket for Border in South Africa) was a master stroke, and he currently boasts the best bowling average in the West Indies side (25.65). His knowledge of the South African pitches and conditions will be a huge boost for the Windies.

But ultimately they’ll be looking to their Shining Star – Brian Lara – who has been off cricket since last year with a mysterious illness. He’s fit again in time for the World Cup, however, and has expressed his desire to get back to the kind of form that made him the best batsman of the mid-nineties. That form included making the highest ever Test score (375), as well as the highest ever First Class score (501*).

Should he find that form Lara can win the Windies every game, and if he’s in that form then he’s the best batsman on earth to watch (other than Paul Adams, of course – he’s just Class). Their opening game against South Africa will sorely test the South African mental resolve, and you better believe it’s going to be a cracker.

The problem with the Windies is that they have the ability to win matches they were unlikely to, then lose matches they should have won. Their biggest failing is consistency, and that is what they will be looking to up if they’re to come to the South African party.

Can the Windies win the World Cup? Sure. Will they? No way. I doubt they’ll even make it to the semis and they’re going to struggle to get into the Super Six, but if their bowlers get it together and the top order fires, they could be the surprise package of the World Cup.

Meet The Team:

Carl Hooper

Ridley Jacobs

Shivnarine Chanderpaul

Pedro Collins

Corey Collymore

Mervyn Dillon

Vasbert Drakes

Chris Gayle

Ryan Hinds

Wavell Hinds

Brian Lara

Jermaine Lawson

Nixon McLean

Ricardo Powell

Ramnaresh Sarwan

They Play Against:

Sunday 09/02: South Africa (Cape Town, D/N)

Thursday 13/02: New Zealand (Port Elizabeth, day)

Tuesday 18/02: Bangladesh (Benoni, day)

Sunday 23/02: Canada (Centurion, day)

Friday 28/02: Sri Lanka (Cape Town, D/N)

Tuesday 04/03: Kenya (Kimberley, day)

Bookies (Bet365): 15/1

Webby’s West Indies Tip:

The Windies have a proud World Cup history, but it will be more than pride they’ll need here. Their first game – against South Africa – will be crucial, and one of the showpieces of the tournament. Both sides will be looking to get off to the perfect start on the second-best day of the World Cup, and you can be sure that no one who follows cricket will be anywhere but at that game, in person or on the box.

You would expect South Africa to get to the Super Six, which means the Windies, Sri Lanka and New Zealand will fight it out for the remaining two slots. Recent form would indicate New Zealand will go through, so it’s between the Windies and Sri Lanka. Take your pick.

If they lose the first game to South Africa, then get back to the same venue for their second-last game against Sri Lanka – that will be a biggie for them.