'Expectation is 3-0 but it won't be easy': WI assistant coach Roddy Estwick

West Indies assistant coach Roddy Estwick has stressed the importance of his team not taking anything for granted heading into the Cricket World Cup Super League series against the Netherlands, which begins on the 31st of May.

Speaking to the media on Friday, Estwick wasn't interested in names or favourites heading into the series but employed that his team must focus on the opportunity ahead. 

"Cricket is never played on paper. It is played on grass, and being favourites count for nothing. We start favorites in Holland but [in our next series] we should not start favorites in Pakistan [so] people have got to look at it as the opportunity to represent the West Indies. Our standards should not be lowered to accommodate the opposition," he powerfully expressed.  

The upcoming fixture will be the first assignment for newly-appointed captain Nicholas Pooran who will have a relatively inexperienced team to work with. Estwick also touched on the importance of this series for the new skipper, "(this series) gives Pooran a chance to forge his identity with the senior players not around. But, at the end of the day, the decision-making falls with Pooran, and it is up to the players to execute their skills."

Estwick also spoke on Shimron Hetmyer, who is currently having a tremendous season with the Rajasthan Royals (RR) and has been a massive part of his team finishing in the top two in the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, he will not be present in the maroon due to the birth of his child. 

"If someone like Hetmyer is not playing, you will miss his talent. He is having an outstanding season for the Rajasthan Royals [but] has been asked not to be selected for this tour so we will have to get on without him. We do hope he will make himself available for future tours," Estwick stated. 

The 25-year-old who would have last represented the Windies at the T20 World Cup last year is seen as one of the future leaders of the WI batting lineup and will no doubt leave a massive void in the top order.

One of the major challenges facing the West Indies will be foreign conditions, an area that Estwick sees as significant, "the major challenge will be adjusting to the conditions and pitches. We don't know what the conditions will be like in Holland. The key thing is focusing on us, making sure that we are properly prepared to get as much information while practicing out of the conditions in the three days before." 

The West Indies, who currently sit in tenth place in the Super League standings, will start the series as favorites against the bottom of the table Netherlands who have only managed two wins thus far. However, the Dutch will relish the opportunity to welcome a relatively young West Indies team to their backyard for battle.