Joe Root's England are favourites to win the three-Test series, particularly given West Indies' poor record away from home and the number of experienced players they are missing.
However, Viv Richards believes that England showed in the Champions Trophy this summer, in which they were surprisingly beaten by Pakistan, that they do not always live up their billing. "Over the years, it has always amazed me with England," he said.
"They never win as much as they should. I look at the Champions Trophy - there was no better team for that format, but they still fell short.
"I rate this England team, they are strong. They have Moeen Ali down at eight. England have the right stuff in their teams, but then they fall down at some hurdle or just don't jump high enough.
"I hope the West Indies team can see that England are beatable."
Richards, arguably the most devastating batsman of all time, hopes this young West Indies team can exploit the unknowns of the first Day/Night Test in England. "Everyone is new to the pink ball," he said. "No one knows what is going to happen with it. England have the players, but there are some weaknesses in their side and with the unknowns of the pink ball, the West Indies could lay down an early marker.
"This series could provide the opening up of some of our young batsmen because when you come here to England and do well, it really breeds confidence."
West Indies are missing players such as Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo and Sunil Narine because a number of key figures have either opted out or not been selected as they have chosen to play in domestic Twenty20 leagues rather than focus on first-class cricket. Richards, who averaged more than 60 in his 24 Test matches in England, believes that this young team should take the opportunity to learn.
"I hope this series turns out to be a tighter contest than people are expecting," he said. "Just looking at recent form would tell you it isn't going to be, but I believe playing cricket in the UK is the best place in the world. It has the best grounds you can play on.
"The only thing that gets in batsmen's way is being deterred by folks telling you about the seam and the swing factor, and that if you are from a hot climate it will be tough. But I'd be telling these young batsmen to erase that talk and enjoy it."
As a key part of one of the most successful Test teams of all time, Richards is, without an iota of doubt, well qualified to talk about success and analyse the steady decline of West Indies cricket.
"It does hurt that the glory days have been lost," he said. "I was doing some television work during the Champions Trophy and there was no West Indies there. No West Indies... That's like saying there would be no Chelsea or Arsenal in the Premier League. That's how it felt.
"I felt pretty low during the Champions Trophy because I know the long and proud history of West Indies cricket. I don't believe that many of the players of the modern day really understand the legacy of West Indies cricket and why they are playing for West Indies and why it matters so much.
"You have to have people in charge who have an idea of success. We haven't got many individuals in charge of West Indies cricket, who would have been part of that successful period to filter that down to the current players. We have some of the weakest people in those positions of power.
"Yes, we had our differences (when I was playing), but what stood out was when we put on that maroon cap, there was a real sense of pride. I want to see that return. I want to see that in this group."
THE TIMES, LONDON
