Legendary former West Indies captain, Sir Vivian Richards, has held out little hope of the Caribbean side winning next year’s ICC World Cup in England.

He identified the hosts along with five-time winners and reigning champions, Australia, as among his favourites but overlooked the struggling Windies.

The west indies are ranked ninth in the ICC one-day rankings, a position that forced them to play a qualifying tournament last march in order to reach the May 30 to July 14 tournament.

However, they are to improve on their ODI form, winning just three of 11 games this year in bilateral series. More glaringly, West Indies have not won an ODI series in four years.

Richards, a member of the world cup-winning sides of 1975 and 1979, said he was hopeful the ‘Windies would improve their fortunes.