Key man - Marlon Samuels
Samuels has been one of the most heartening success stories in cricket in many years. If it was not enough that he never quite produced the performances to match his talent in his early years, then getting banned for ties with a bookie was going overboard in wasting his gifts. But since his return, he has been a different player altogether and it was in England last year where he enjoyed his finest personal triumph. He then led the side to the World T20 title.
Why they will win it
For sheer bling and explosive talent, few sides can actively match the resources West Indies have. Chris Gayle may be in poor ODI form and in danger of becoming a T20 specialist, but what if he comes off in two, maybe three games? Ditto Kieron Pollard. That near enough guarantees a semi-final place, at which point the tournament becomes anybody's. And in case we had forgotten, the last time the Champions Trophy was held in England in 2004, West Indies won it.
Why they will not win it
West Indies have been pretty abysmal in 50-over global tournaments for years now. They did make the final of the 2006 Champions Trophy after their triumph in the previous edition, but they have failed to threaten the later stages since. They are also in the middle of a terrible run of recent ODI form, with the series loss to Bangladesh a low point.
Squad (ODIs)
Dwayne Bravo (capt) 137 Denesh Ramdin (wk) 97
Tino Best 20
Darren Bravo 53
Jason Holder 2
Johnson Charles 11
Chris Gayle 242
Sunil Narine 28
Kieron Pollard 75
Ravi Rampaul 73
Marlon Samuels 142
Ramnaresh Sarwan 179
Devon Smith 42 Darren Sammy 92
Kemar Roach 51
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