West Indies Preview

London - For a side with a certain arrogance as well as superiority the West Indies have rarely been shy about their stated intentions.

Winning the seventh World Cup would, however, crown what has been a decided erratic seven months: humbled and humiliated in South Africa they levelled the Test and limited-overs series against Australia. A topsy-turvy roulette of events, which led to allegations of team dissent and revolt and the retirement of the highly valued and experienced yet disillusioned all-rounder Carl Hooper.

Hooper had talked of boredom and loss of interest as the team went on losing in South Africa while his wife battled to look after a sick child in Australia. He became further troubled during the limited-overs series against Australia and quitting was, for him, the honourable way out of what had become an untenable situation as the calm, assured Jimmy Adams regained his place.

What is surprising is that the West Indies, so dominant in the 1970s, have not won the World Cup since 1979. There have been some brilliant players who have pulled on that maroon cap and worn it with pride, the big prize eluded them.

Last October they lost to South Africa in the final of the mini World Cup in Dhaka and 24 hours later the team, already split up with half in Johannesburg and half in London over a payment issue, the tour of South Africa was in danger. Later Brian Lara apologised to a South African public and then oversaw the sort of thrashing the West Indies have ever suffered. Whether they can continue the climb back after the turmoil and tumultuous summer is another matter.

Lara has, from what is being said, learnt a lot from the South Africa venture where he messed in his own garden patch and dragged the mud with him where ever he went. Now he is a changed man, we are told. The humiliation has brought him face to face with the ugly image West Indians did not care to see.

He had to change. For the better of the West Indies and the better of the team if not the collection of Caribbean islands who idolised him. The pressure may have been great, but he had brought it on himself and the side lay bruised and isolated.

Whether Lara can act as the catalyst to inspire and ageing bowling attack to help him win the World Cup is another matter. Losing Hooper was a cruel blow as he had the experience so valuable in tight situations. Jimmy Adams' availability can soften the blow and Shivnarine Chanderpaul is a class act as well.

There was a time in the past when West Indies spectators, so used to winning became confused when they lost a Test or a series. Time will tell how they can accept further defeat, but this time knowing they are perhaps on the way back.

Statistics

• Team World Cup Records
• Team One-Day International Records
• West Indian Statistics