Reifer pleased with Chennai camp...
Windies face BCB XI in warm-up ahead of Test series
WEST Indies batting consultant Floyd Reifer has given the team’s two-week preparation camp in Chennai a 10 out of 10, expressing confidence that the work done against spin will prepare the Caribbean batsmen for the challenges of the two-Test series against Bangladesh. The immediate test comes against a Bangladesh Cricket Board XI in a two-day warm-up match starting today at Anvir Cricket Stadium in Bashundhara, Dhaka, where the West Indies will look to translate their intensive training into performance under match conditions. Reifer said the Chennai camp provided the players with the facilities, coaching and time needed to sharpen their technique against spin, improve their strike rotation and develop more scoring options ahead of a challenging assignment in the subcontinent
“I must say the two-week camp was very successful for us,” Reifer said. “We really maximised those two weeks there. Guys hit a lot of balls, we batted a lot of spin, did a lot of spin drills as well. Obviously, we worked on some technical stuff. Then we worked on a lot of rotation of strike in terms of batting spin and scoring options.” “Like I said, you know, the ability to bat spin confidently, showing that intent in defence, intent in rotation and strike, intent in scoring,” Reifer said. “I think that on this trip to Bangladesh, all guys are ready.”
Reifer stressed the importance of long batting spells, with the players required to demonstrate discipline over extended periods rather than rely on the shorter bursts of scoring associated with limited-overs cricket. “Red-ball cricket is about doing the right things for long periods of time, batting sessions, batting different phases in the game,” said Reifer. He wants the batsmen to understand when they are in control of a passage of play and, just as importantly, how to maintain that control through changing conditions and spells of pressure.