West Indies

After the disappointment of its CWC 2007 campaign, the West Indies will be looking to rediscover its form at the ICC World Twenty20.

But it will need to be at the top of its game to succeed in the tournament, particularly in such a difficult group with host nation South Africa as well as Bangladesh, whose outstanding victories over India and South Africa at the CWC 2007 make it a force to be reckoned with.

Having won its opening game in the CWC 2007 against Pakistan, the West Indies then failed to live up to expectations in the Super Eight stage, putting up a string of hugely disappointing performances.

The West Indies will be looking for Chris Gayle, Player of the Tournament at the ICC Champions Trophy 2006, to rediscover his form after a disappointing campaign in the Caribbean at the CWC 2007. And with the retirement of former skipper Brian Lara, there will also be pressure on captain Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Marlon Samuels to deliver with the bat.

While Daren Powell and Dwayne Bravo had their moments with the ball at the CWC 2007, there was no single consistent performer, or anybody able to deliver match-winning performances such as Jerome Taylor’s display against Australia at the ICC Champions Trophy 2006, where his hat-trick sealed the match.

In its first Twenty20 game, the West Indies enjoyed a thrilling tie with New Zealand, with the match only settled when the Kiwis comprehensively won the bowl-out 3-0.

It then drew a two-match series in England in June 2007. In the opening game, England never really looked like reaching its target of 209, following Devon Smith’s 61 off 34 balls and Marlon Samuels’ 51 off 26 balls, and the West Indies won by 15 runs.

It was a different story the following day though, as England won by five wickets, despite an impressive 61 by Gayle and 42 from Samuels.

The domestic Stanford Twenty20 tournament showed that the Caribbean is passionate about this format of the game and nothing would revitalise spirits in the West Indies more than the team bringing the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 trophy home.

West Indies: Ramnaresh Sarwan (captain), Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Pedro Collins, Narsingh Deonarine, Fidel Edwards, Chris Gayle, Runako Morton, Daren Powell, Denesh Ramdin, Ravi Rampaul, Darren Sammy, Marlon Samuels, Devon Smith, Dwayne Smith.