ICC World Twenty20 final: England v West Indies preview

England and the West Indies will battle to become the first two-time winners of the World Twenty20 in Sunday's mouth-watering final at Kolkata's Eden Gardens.

For England, reaching the final has been a remarkable achievement, given some woeful white-ball performances in the last few years.

They were dumped out of the 50-over World Cup in the pool phase last year, the lowlight a meek surrender to Bangladesh, and there was great embarrassment in the 2014 World T20, when they lost to the Netherlands.

This tournament has been a rollercoaster ride. Destroyed by the Windies - and Chris Gayle in particular - in the opening game, they then had to pull off a world record run chase of 230 in their second match to beat South Africa and stay in the tournament.

From the sublime, they slumped to the ridiculous against Afghanistan, collapsing to 57-6 against the tournament minnows, before England's bowlers bailed the batsmen out.

But their victories against Sri Lanka and, in the semi-final, against New Zealand, were masterclasses in T20 international cricket, with brutal power-hitting from Jason Roy, Joe Root and Jos Buttler and nerveless death bowling from Ben Stokes and Chris Jordan.

No team has hit more sixes than England's 34 in the tournament - a marked contrast to last year's 50-over World Cup when they rarely cleared the ropes. Stokes and Jordan go full and fast, often well wide of off stump, and have enjoyed considerable success so far.

But David Willey might be a key man in the final. The ball should swing in the humid conditions and he will be looking to get the ball moving against Gayle - who rarely moves his feet - in particular.

Roy, one of the stars of the new-look England, promised they would come at their opponents "with all guns blazing" and continue in the same aggressive vein that has confounded their old conservative reputation.

"It's going to be an incredible experience but we are going to play our natural way and the brand of cricket we have been playing for the last year or so," said the Surrey star.

The Windies spoiled India's party by knocking the hosts out in the semi-finals, but their journey to the final has proven that they are not reliant on Gayle - or 'Universe Boss' as he called himself after carting England all over Mumbai.

Since Gayle's thunderous 100no - off just 48 balls - against England, he has chipped in with just nine runs, and it has been unsung heroes - Jonathan Charles, Lendl Simmons and Andre Russell - who have powered them into Sunday's showpiece.

"England will certainly be aware that it is certainly not a one-man show in this team," Simmons said after his match-winning innings against India.

The West Indies love playing England - they have won nine of the 13 T20 international clashes between the two teams, and all four meetings at the World Twenty20.

There will be 66,000 in Eden Gardens, one of the world's great cricketing cathedrals, so experience will count and the Windies have a serious edge there too. Eight of the team which won the 2012 tournament are likely to play in the final, while only Eoin Morgan survives from the England team which won in 2010.

But, as Sky Sports expert Nasser Hussain says, this young England "are a side who don't fear anyone."

Will England win the World T20? Find out by watching their match with West Indies from 1.30pm, Sunday, Sky Sports 2. Before then see if West Indies Women can overcome Australia Women in the Women's World Twenty20 Final, live on Sky Sports 2 on Sunday from 9.30am.