Triumphant in the 2016 ICC World Twenty20 over England, West Indies’ white ball formula is based predominantly on a combination of batsman who can clear the ropes, strapping fast bowlers and mystery spinners.
Their victory over England in the final of the T20 showpiece prominently incorporated two of the three characteristics as all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite bludgeoned Ben Stokes for four consecutive sixes in the final over.
Whilst their Test form has embarked upon a downhill trend, it takes a brave man to bet against West Indies in the white ball arena as, on their day, they can take any side apart.
Led from the front by all-rounder Jason Holder, the West Indies often rely on the experience of Marlon Samuels, Dinesh Ramdin, Darren Bravo and Kieron Pollard for the majority of their runs.
However, in their recent tri-series with Australia and South Africa that all changed, as the West Indies beat the men from Down Under once and the Proteas twice before falling at the final hurdle, beaten by 58 runs by Steven Smith's men.
Belying their lowly ICC ranking of eighth in the world, they were grateful for some standout individual performances across the tournament, but also on cameo contributions form other members of their squad.
In the first match, Sunil Narine’s 6-27 ripped the heart out of South Africa’s batting line up before Pollard’s run-a-ball 67, including six maximums, gave the West Indies an opening victory.
With Narine and Pollard the key men against the Proteas, their second win of the round robin stages, this time against Australia, came courtesy of an all-round team performance.
Two wickets apiece from Holder, Brathwaite and Pollard laid the platform for the top five to ease the West Indies to a four-wicket triumph.
The experienced Samuels anchored the chase with 92 whilst Johnson Charles (48), Andre Fletcher (27), Bravo (39) and Ramdin (29) edged the side over the line.
A 100-run thrashing of South Africa followed as more runs for Bravo (100) and wickets for Shannon Gabriel (3-17) further proved that the West Indies are starting to show increased depth of squad, to support their obvious star quality.
Add to that Evin Lewis’ 49-ball 100 against India in their T20 series victory in the USA, and the West Indies’ batting department is once again well stocked with powerful boundary hitters.
For all their off-field problems, once the West Indies step over the boundary rope in white ball cricket they are a force to be reckoned with, and 2017 will likely be no different.
Trent Bridge will host an Investec Test Match between England and South Africa, and a Royal London One-Day International visit from the West Indies, in 2017.
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