West Indies start their T20I series against Sri Lanka this week. After a disappointing performance during the ODI stage of the tour, Kieron Pollard will be eager for his players to get their form back for the T20 segment.With a World Cup only months away, things are hotting up in the race for selection. There are a few key spots that are yet to be completely nailed down, those mainly being the opening spots, and the spinner position. The men in possession of these roles (Lendl Simmons, Evin Lewis, Khary Pierre and Hayden Walsh Jnr) will all have the tournament on their mind over the next week, as competition continues to hot up.

However, whilst individual selection cases are there to be made - another brilliant Caribbean Premier League season for a young spinner could easily see them catapulted into the XI - the most interesting element of this forthcoming series is the presence of a veteran, rather than a youngster, in the West Indies squad. The return of Andre Russell to the maroon jersey is the most obvious and notable point from this squad.

Russell is, arguably, the best T20 batsman in the world. Since the start of last year, he has scored at over 10rpo, comfortably the quickest scorer in the world of anyone to face a considerable number of deliveries.

Whilst he's clearly a lock for the first team when he's fit and available, the question of how the side fits around him is still there - how do the West Indies balance their XI, when Russell is in it?

In the last three T20 series, West Indies have been trying to work out the balance of their team with regard to getting enough bowling options. Save for a few opportunities for Fabian Allen and Jason Holder being pushed up the order, they have generally avoided having a genuine bowling option in the top six. Generally, their five main bowlers have batted at No.7-11.

The introduction of Russell obviously changes this. Whilst his knee issues have meant that staying on the park is not a given, when he has been out there, he has generally bowled - since the start of 2018, Russell has averaged just under 18 deliveries bowled per innings. As such, when he plays, there is a genuine bowling option in the top six capable of delivering three overs more often than not.

As a result, means they have the opportunity to strengthen either the batting or the bowling side of things. What they choose to do with the extra player - whether they strengthen batting or bowling - is fundamental to the identity of the side. In the last two years, West Indies have scored at 7.8rpo on average, above the average figure for all T20Is in that time, but have conceded runs at 8.7rpo. Obviously this will be influenced by pitches and opposition as much as anything else, but it gives a clear indication that West Indies' stronger suit is their batting. Given the strength in depth of the batting, it would make sense for Pollard to take a chance on Brandon King or a Fabian Allen (the latter allowing for a bowling option as well) rather than another pure bowler.

West Indies clearly have one of the best player pools for T20 cricket in the world, and are in a great position approaching the World Cup. However, the introduction of Russell will allow them to make some crucial plans ahead of the tournament during this series.

West Indies Squad for two-match T20I series v Sri Lanka: Kieron Pollard (c), Fabian Allen, Dwayne Bravo, Sheldon Cottrell, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Brandon King, Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell, Andre Russell, Lendl Simmons, Oshane Thomas, Hayden Walsh Jr, Kesrick Williams.