West Indies open against South Africa on March 8 in a tough Group A schedule and Campbell believes it will be critical to pick up a victory in their first game.

“We want to start the World Cup on a winning note and set the tone for the tournament,” he said before the team left the Grantley Adams International Airport, Barbados.

The former West Indies opening batsman and vice-captain says the Windies should have the psychological advantage against the South Africans, having beaten them in their last meeting.

“The last time we played against South Africa in 2005 we beat them, so we will aim to maintain that. We are in a competitive zone, so we need to get off to a winning start,” he added.

The nucleus of the West Indies squad has been together for the past nine months.

Most of the players toured Europe last summer and were also part of the team to Sri Lanka in October last year.

The players also had a camp in Barbados four weeks ago that the team management used to fine-tune their World Cup preparations.

“During the camp we did a lot of fitness and we had three matches, which were great. In the camp we dealt with diet and preparation for match and overall tactical awareness,” said Campbell.

“We also had a lot of net sessions where we focused on batting, but we still have some more work to do on playing against spinners and building a long innings. We want the players to be able to build match-winning innings. Our bowling is really good and consistent. We have good new-ball bowlers and we have some very good spinners.”

The team is being led by Trinidad and Tobago’s wicketkeeper Merissa Aguilleira and includes five players who played in the last World Cup in South Africa four years ago — Kirbyina Alexander, the vice-captain, Cordel Jack, Anisa Mohammed, Pamela Lavine and Debbie-Ann Lewis.

The Grenadian fast-bowling all-rounder Lewis is the most experienced in the squad with 39 One-Day International (ODI) caps.

Mohammed (16) and Stacy-Ann King (13) are next on the squad list with most caps.

There are four teenagers in the squad – Stafanie Taylor, Deandra Dottin, Shakera Selman and Danielle Small.

Campbell said he will be looking for everyone to make a contribution.

“We might not have the experience of the other teams, but we have the talent to compete at this level – we saw that when we toured Europe and Sri Lanka,” he said.

West Indies, who placed fifth at the last World Cup, will also face title-holders and hosts Australia and New Zealand in their Group A schedule.

On March 10, the Windies will meet New Zealand at Bankstown Oval and on March 11 they will play against Australia at Drummoyne Oval.

Group B will have India, the beaten finalists in 2005, England, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

The top three teams in each group will advance to the Super Six stage.

Joining Campbell on the West Indies management team will be Josina Luke (manager), Jacqui King-Mowatt (physiotherapist) and Shannon Lashley (strength and conditioning coach).

West Indies Women’s Squad – Merissa Aguilleira (captain), Kirbyina Alexander (vice-captain), Shanel Daley, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Geneille Greaves, Cordel Jack, Stacy-Ann King, Pamela Lavine, Anisa Mohammed, Debbie-Ann Lewis, Shakera Selman, Danielle Small, Charlene Taitt, Stafanie Taylor.