Tony Becca

The West Indies opened their assignments in the DLF Cup Tri-Nations limited-over series against Australia in Kuala Lumpur last night, and for Brian Lara and his men, it should be the start of their preparation for the World Cup - for a winning bid at the biggest prize in cricket.

With India the third team in the DLF Cup, with the ICC Champions Trophy to follow, with five matches against Pakistan and another five-match series against India to come before the World Cup, with Australia being the best in the world, with Pakistan and India numbered among the best, and once they qualify, which they should, with the Champions Trophy involving the best in the world, the West Indies could not have asked for a better line-up of teams against which to test their skills as they prepare to host the biggest event in cricket and the third biggest in any sport.

As hosts, it is imperative that the West Indies, winners of the first two tournaments in 1975 and 1979, perform well. It will be even better if they win, however, and once they make use of the matches before next March, once they "see it necessary to get themselves fully focussed - mentally and physically" as Lara is hoping they will, there is no reason why this West Indies team cannot go all the way and win the World Cup.

Good one-day team

A few months ago the West Indies defeated India 4-1, and although some of the matches were close, very close and exciting, the victory proved that the West Indies have the makings of a good one-day team, and that with more dedication to hard work, with more importance placed on performance and results, the West Indies, instead of being number eight, can be number one again - and home and World Cup 2007 is the perfect place and time to turn up and show the world who are the best.

With a team like Australia in the race, and another like South Africa, it will not be easy. It is, however, possible. In fact, looking at the West Indies team, the quality of some the players and the potential of others, it is more than possible. It is very possible.

Christopher Gayle is a magnificent striker of the ball and on his day he can plunder any attack; Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul are excellent batsmen; and Lara is Lara - the best batsman in the business.

Rough end

Marlon Samuels is potentially a class batsman; Runako Morton is a performer; although he always seem to get the rough end of the stick, Wavell Hinds is a good and experienced batsman; Dwayne Bravo is a quality all-rounder; Dwayne Smith is potentially a fine all-rounder who has the ability, if he is focussed, to turn a game with bat, ball and in the field; Carlton Baugh, on his day, is a fine hitter of the ball; and Fidel Edwards, Jerome Taylor, Corey Collymore and Ian Bradshaw represent a good quartet of fast bowlers.

The West Indies 11 should have batting down to number eight, with three fast bowlers plus Bravo, plus any three of Gayle, Samuels, Smith and Hinds, it should have at least seven bowlers, and once the fielding is up to par, that could be and should be a formidable team in one-day cricket.

For the West Indies to win, to do well, however, they will have to be consistent, and in order to be consistent, they will have to do what captain Lara says they need to do: they will have to be focus - to forget all other things and concentrate on cricket for the next five months or so.