The T20 specialists have been completely erratic and relatively inconsistent in the ODI format. They have not won a single bilateral series in ODI Cricket since April 2015. Also the fact that they didn't qualify for ICC Champions Trophy in 2017 & were forced to play the Qualifying Tournament to be eligible to play for this World Cup speaks about how West Indies Cricket has been for the last 4 odd years. So one way of looking at them is that they may cause the one off upset on their day but they are no contenders for the trophy. But I'm little more optimistic about them then what their numbers suggest. Although they lost, but they showed a lot of fighting spirit in their last two away bilateral ODI series vs England & India respectively. Shai Hope and Shimron Hetymer came up with match defining performances to instill confidence to their struggling middle order woes and add firepower to the deadly opening duo of Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis.
The 50 over format is soon becoming an extended version of 20 overs format. West Indies has plenty of players who are specialist T20 globe trotters & are so so destructive that they could be virtual match winners on their day. The West Indies Cricket Board has had its share of financial crisis & administration mayhem leading to plenty of players choosing to represent the money spinning leagues across the globe ahead of playing in maroons. But as we near this ICC tournament, the administration and players have reunited. It was a big surprise to see the one man army, Andre Russell who last played an ODI for West Indies about a year back being drafted into the squad and non-preferred players like Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo being announced as standby players. Sometimes it feels like their board has no objection with the players earning money across the globe for four years as long as they're ready to represent West Indies for every World Cup.
Likely XI
1) Evin Lewis
2) Chris Gayle
3) Shai Hope
4) Shimron Hetymer
5) Darren Bravo
6) Jason Holder
7) Andre Russell
8) Carlos Braithwaite
9) Ashley Nurse
10) Kemar Roach
11) Shannon Gabriel
Bench
1) Sheldon Cottrel & 2) Oshane Thomas - They are both reserve fast bowlers. They could play ahead of any of quicks in the likely XI depending on the surface & overhead conditions
3) Fabian Allen - Reserve Spinner
4) Nicholas Pooran - Reserve Wicket-keeper & middle order batsmen
Verdict - I don't think they will reach the top 4, but if they do it's going to be one hell of an entertaining journey to witness !
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