5 West Indies players to watch out for in the 2015 World Cup

Can the Caribbean kings become Emperors of the World again?Accusations, counter-accusations, and unceremonious dismissals – it has just not been a happy six or seven months for the West Indian cricket team. From player revolts over payment disputes to large-scale debates over the commitment of the likes of Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo and the banning of the wily Sunil Narine, the once-mighty superpower of world cricket now stands on the very brink of fading away without a whimper.But there are five men who will do whatever it takes to restore national pride and bring the zing back into the side. A new-look team, a new captain, a couple of veterans who have seen it all before: it just doesn’t get any better than this.Here’s a look at the Fab Five to watch out for:

#5 Chris Gayle

Chris Gayle: Will the Big Man deliver?

If the Windies are to secure their third World Cup title this time around, Chris Gayle is going to be their chief weapon. An experienced hand at the highest level, the big-hitting left-hander’s free-flowing style of batting immediately evokes comparisons with the Jayasuriya-Kaluwitharana pair of 1996. With Dwayne Smith and Lendl Simmons ready to support him as his opening partners (depending on the think-tank’s strategy), the ice-cool southpaw is the biggest hope they have for putting up tall scores right throughout the tournament.

Those deceptive off-breaks that Gayle delivers have been known to take out the most stubborn of rival batsmen. Coupled with his relaxed demeanour, the ever-smiling Jamaican would look to make the most of what, in all likelihood, might be his last appearance in this quadrennial extravaganza. As for us ardent cricket fans, the spectacle of the big man sending the ball into orbit will once again be a sight to behold!