BBC Sport has teamed up with fans on the TMS message boards to give you a fan's eye view of international cricket.

Each week, we will be choosing one supporter to sound off about his or her team.

This week Don Talon, 28, from Barbados, gives his views on West Indies.

Who have been your best players in the last year?
The best players I've seen in the past year have been Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan. Chris has shown that he has the the class and style to last the distance in Test cricket as he is both attacking and graceful. I think he has the character to be a possible captain of the future.

The graceful Chris Gayle could succeed Brian Lara as captain

Sarwan is a fine young player who has just blossomed. All he needs to complete his game is to get tough when the stakes are high.

For these two players the sky should be the limit.

And your worst?
Meryvn Dillon. After eight years in top flight cricket he still has to convince the West Indian people, me included, that he gives a hoot. His lacklustre approach does not sit well with the West Indies fans who are accustomed to seeing the likes of Holding, Patterson, Marshall and Walsh steaming in from the boundary's edge with aggressive intent.

Sum up the last year in one word:
Hopeful

Now sum it up in 50:
This year has been the best for Windies cricket since our 'rebuilding' process started in 1991; we have seen some talented youngsters coming to the fore with consistent intenational performances and the necessary determination it takes to succeed combined with the willingness to listen and learn from senior players.

The Kensington Oval has an unrivalled atmosphere in cricket

Which West Indian ground is your favourite to watch international cricket at and why?
The Kensington Oval. The atmosphere is just awesome. It's a small ground so all the atmosphere is condensed into this tiny sphere - it's pure energy. The Kensington Stand Posse are renowned as the most knowlegable fans in world cricket; during Tests there are at least 40 different debates going on in that stand alone!

The wicket has become rather slow, low and favourable to batsmen and this has increasingly taken a bit away from the cricket. The Kensington atmosphere, however, is second to none.

Are there any promising youngsters in your squad?
I have been very impressed with the willingness of Fidel Edwards to work hard at his craft and geniunely listen. I also have time for young Carlton Baugh, Jermaine Lawson and Omari Banks.

Player your team couldn't cope without?
Brian Lara

Which opposition players do your fans most respect?
Reared on success, the Windies fan does not suffer mediocrity at all. In recent years we've had a healthy respect for Steve Waugh, because of his determination and overall commitment. Other respected players include Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Michael Vaughan.

If you could choose one of these to play for West Indies, which would it be?
Sachin Tendulkar

Best moment as a West Indies fan:
When we chased Australia's 418 for victory and won easily. We dug deep and came up with a great win.

Biggest let down:
The attitude of the players to the task at hand, which is to rebuild West Indies cricket. At times their commitment has been severely lacking.

West Indies star Curtley Ambrose was always keen to get a wicket

Funniest thing seen at a match:
When Curtley Ambrose appealed for an lbw after he was cut to the point boundary for four by Sherwin Campbell. The Leewards needed one run to win the game and the champonship and I guess it was a case of anything goes! Needless to say the umpire signalled four and Ambrose walked off looking rather sheepish.

Favourite all-time player:
Sir Donald Bradman

Worst player even seen:
At Test level - Lincoln Roberts

Many see the current team as one of the weakest in living memory. Do you think this is fair?
This depends on how you look at the situation. It is a weak team on performance but very strong on talent. In fact, this is the brightest bloom in Windies cricket for 25 years in terms of number of talented players coming through, so this view is not entirely correct.

Is Brian Lara the best man to captain the team?
Let me just say that he's the best option available.

Has West Indian cricket suffered from the growing popularity of basketball in the Caribbean in recent years?

Brian Lara is the key man for the West Indies team

I don't think we have suffered from this at all. More organised cricket is being played now than 20 years ago and more players are in the system. What has been missing though is the 'back yard' street matches where you would have seen heaps of school boys playing 'Tests' with each player pretending to be their cricketing hero. This kind of grassroots cricket is not seen as often as it once was but I also don't see any rise is the interest in basketball either for that matter.

I think that cricket has been taken off the street and brought into the more organised setting of the coaching clinic schools so although it is not seen, the youngsters are still playing .

How do you see the upcoming Test and ODI series with England going?
I expect this to be a run-filled series as both teams have stronger batting line-ups than they have bowling attacks. The team which bowls best in this series will hold the edge. The key for England is to remove the openers as soon as posible and get Lara at the wicket - they have to get him on the defensive right away and stamp their authority on him and the series from the word go.

West Indies must hope their young bowling attack comes on and comes on fast.They must target and remove Michael Vaughan and Trescothick as soon as possible. A good England start could spell danger for an inexperienced Windies attack.