Return of Lara boosts struggling West Indies

West Indies have to get their act together: they are about to begin a two-Test series against Pakistan on Thursday but they enter it in the worst possible form, having now lost nine one-dayers in the bounce.

But the venue for the first Test - The Kensington Oval in Barbados - doesn't bode well for the home side. They haven't won there since beating India in 2002: New Zealand, Australia, England and South Africa have all defeated them at the ground since. They did manage to draw with Pakistan last time they came here in 1999, although that victory was achieved with a vastly different, and better, team. They can cling to a small consolation: Pakistan have never won a series in the West Indies.

Overall, Pakistan's travelling form is poor: they have won just 41 of their 166 Tests away from home. But they are definitely on the up, having drawn their last series in India and impressed in the one-day series. West Indies have won just two of their past 20 Tests, and only four of their past 20 Tests at home.

To that end, they have recalled their top batsman Brian Lara to the side for the first Test - having rested him for the one-day series - but Bet365 don't think his return will make much difference. They make West Indies 5/1 (6.00) to win the series, while Pakistan are 4/6 (1.66) and the draw is 2/1. Given that West Indies' last Test series win came against Bangladesh last year, they are probably not sticking their necks out too much. Pakistan are 9/5 (2.8) to win the series 1-0 and 3/1 (4.00) to complete a 2-0 whitewash. In contrast, West Indies are 6/1 (7.00) to win 1-0 and a massive 22/1 (23.00) to win it 2-0. A 0-0 draw is 4/1 (5.00) and a 1-1 draw is 5/1 (6.00).

Lara, of course, was a rare shining light in the Test series defeat by South Africa, hitting two big hundreds. Even aged 36, he still averages a fantastic 53.50 and it's no surprise to see him installed at 13/8 (2.62) to be top West Indies batsman in the series. Ramnaresh Sarwan is 4/1 (5.00), while Chris Gayle - fresh from his triple century in the last Test against South Africa - is 4/1 (5.00). Shivnarine Chanderpaul, their captain, is also 4/1 (5.00). Chanderpaul backers may also like to know that he averages 53.49 at home, contrasted to his overall average of 46.24, and that in his four Tests as skipper, his average soared to an incredible 90.00.

For Pakistan, Younis Khan and Yousuf Youhana are joint favourites at 3/1 (4.00), while their captain Inzamam-ul-Haq is a 7/1 (8.00) chance. Khan averages 44.56, Youhana 47.46 and Inzamam a superb 50, having smashed a big century in his last match against India.

West Indies' bowling has been a problem for several years, and the bookmakers are struggling to pick a favourite. The pacy Fidel Edwards tops the list on 7/2 (4.50), while Corey Collymore and Daren Powell are 4/1 (5.00), and the part-time bowlers Ian Bradshaw and Dwayne Bravo are 9/2 (5.50). For Pakistan, with no Shoaib Akhtar to call on, their spinner Danesh Kaneria is perhaps a surprise favourite at 5/4 (2.25), while Naved Ul-Hasan, who impressed in the one-day series, is 11/4 (3.75). Shabbir Ahmed is 7/2 (4.50) and Abdul Razzaq is 7/1 (8.00).