How Windies could line up at 2019 World Cup with the return of big players

Every cricket fan would love to watch the competitive game of cricket. Even though their national team is not playing, they would love watching the close encounters.

For the past few years, cricket fans around the world are missing the first string West Indies team. Although there are some players who look promising in the Caribbean line-up, somewhat they feel that this is not the first string team.

All this because of the rifts between the West Indies cricket board and their players. Initially, it was about disputes based on wages, and later the fight branched off to several things, including some players complaining of not enough freedom to play in outside leagues. And just before the World cup qualifiers, West Indies cricket board announced that some of their top players are not ready to help the Caribbean team to qualify for the world cup.

Super50 tournament(Domestic 50 over the competition in West Indies) has been scheduled in October this year and West Indies cricket board has asked Narine, Bravo brothers and Kieron Pollard to participate in it.

Andre Russell has already been in the West Indies squad for the series against Bangladesh. Chris Gayle has been playing for their national colour for some months now. In addition to them, players like Shai Hope, Shimron Hetmyer, Shanon Gabriel and in-form Captain Jason Holder form the formidable line-up for Windies.

The West Indies players are consistent performers in the Indian Premier League, the Bangladesh Premier League, Pakistan Super League, Big Bash and the Global T20 Canada, not to mention their own version of International T20 Leagues, the Caribbean Premier League.

Let us have a look at the possible XI of Windies team that would line up in 2019 World Cup if all goes well.

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Openers: Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis

The left-handed duo look dangerous at the top of the order

The big man with 40 international hundreds includes 23 in ODIs needs no introduction. Yes, its Chris Gayle as the first opener. His numbers in the last one year might look below average, but he can take the game away from the opposition single-handedly on his day. He scored 73 off 66 in the third ODI against Bangladesh and that gives big hope for the left-hander at the top of the order.

The Flamboyant Evin Lewis is the second opener to accompany Chris Gayle at the top of the order. He is the leading run-scorer for Windies in ODIs for the past 12 months period. He has scored 560 runs with an average of 40. His recent numbers show that how consistent he has been in the ODIs so far.

Middle order: Shai Hope(wk), Darren Bravo, Kieron Pollard

Shai Hope announced himself to international cricket with two centuries in two innings at Leeds

Shai Hope was the only hope West Indies had when nothing was going well for them in England last year.

He had announced himself to the international arena by scoring 147 in the first innings and 118* in the second innings and took his team home.

This was not the easiest thing to do against the world-class bowlers of James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes, Moeen Ali and Ben Stokes. At No. 3, Hope also fills the spot of wicketkeeper in the team, as he looks promising with the gloves as well.

Darren Bravo at No.4 will provide calmness to the line-up which has storm all over it. His temperament is the one thing which Caribbeans were missing for all these years.

The stylish stroke-maker can stable the innings in the middle overs as the top order and lower middle order strike the ball hard.

At No.5, it's the unpredictable Pollard. His form in the IPL at an earlier stage was not so good. But he came back strongly in the later stage of the tournament and this shows his fighting spirit.

The big-hitting all-rounder needs to score consistently as Shimron Hetmyer is already hitting the door.

Lower Middle Order: Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo, Jason Holder(C), Sunil Narine

This lower middle order of Windies will be filled with full of all-rounders

Andre Russell's form was one of the biggest strength to the Kolkata Knight Riders team in the 2018 IPL. He returned back to the side after serving a ban for a year. He single-handedly won some matches for KKR this season.

At No.6, he can hit sixes out of the park and can even open the bowling with his genuine pace.

Dwayne Bravo has become one of the best death bowlers in the modern cricket. Even though he hasn't played much cricket other than T20 leagues, he will be a great addition to the ODI cricket team. His all-round ability, brilliance in the field and more importantly his experience in the international cricket will be a huge plus to this line-up.

Playing at the lower middle order(mostly at no.7 or no.8), Jason Holder has scored 450 runs and he is the second leading run scorer of West Indies in last one year. He has also taken 26 wickets in the 17 ODIs he has played over the last 12 months. He has become a lot matured player now after he took over the finisher role. With a lot of experience adding to the side, this young captain workload is expected to be reduced.

Sunil Narine at No.9 makes the batting line-up so deep and his hitting abilities are a definite plus to the side. After playing so many years, still, some world class batsmen are struggling to read his magic deliveries.

He can bowl in the powerplay, middle overs and death overs as well, which makes him a flexible player. At this batsmen dominated an era, he still holds the economy of 4.12 in ODIs.

Bowlers: Kemar Roach and Shannon Gabriel

Roach and Gabriel can generate serious pace

Kemar Roach and Shannon Gabriel completing this ODI XI of West Indies. Both the pacers are in tremendous form in the Red-ball cricket and West Indies fans would love to see the same form in ODI cricket as well.

They both can generate swing and pace and that will be very much effective in English conditions in the world cup next year.

Even though they haven't played much white-ball cricket recently, their addition will make the bowling line-up, a strong one. Roach has taken 109 wickets in the 72 ODIs, whereas Gabriel hasn't played much cricket and has taken 23 wickets in 18 ODIs he has played.

Kieron Powell, Shimron Hetmyer, Devendra Bishoo, Kesrick Williams can complete the 15 of the strong West Indies squad and these players are forming the backup option in all the areas.

If this squad makes the world cup, then West Indies would be one of the serious contenders for the world cup title.