Reifer delighted by Windies Test prep camp

DHAKA, Bangladesh (CMC) — West Indies batting coach Floyd Reifer has declared the team’s two-week Test preparation camp in Chennai a resounding success, rating it a perfect 10 out of 10 as the Caribbean side begins its preparations for the Test series against Bangladesh. The West Indians are facing a Bangladesh Cricket Board XI in a two-day warm-up match at the Basundhara Sports City Ground, with the fixture having started at 11:30 am Bangladesh time (10:30 pm Wednesday, Jamaica time). Reflecting on the camp that wrapped up recently, Reifer expressed satisfaction with the facilities and resources made available to the squad. “I must say the two-week camp was very successful for us,” Reifer said. “When we first got there, we met all the other coaches, and we were so delighted about the resources and the amount of resources that were there for us, in terms of pitches, in terms of coaches, in terms of guys to do everything. So we really maximised those two weeks there.” Reifer mentioned what he describes as intensive work ethic displayed by the players throughout the camp, with particular emphasis on facing spin bowling, a critical skill for the upcoming Test series in Bangladesh. “Guys hit a lot of balls,” he said. “We batted a lot of spin, did a lot of spin drills as well. Obviously, we work on some technical stuff. We work on a lot of rotation of strike, in terms of batting spin and scoring options. So I would say the guys, every day, batted over two hours, literally over two hours, working on different aspects of the game.” When asked to rate the camp, Reifer was effusive in his praise, though he acknowledged one minor challenge with the seamers’ run-ups due to the sand-based surfaces. “I would say 10 out of 10,” he said. “I think the only challenge we had was the run-ups with the bowlers, the seamers. I think that was a challenge for us in terms because the run-up is sand-based. But for the batting aspect of the camp, I give it 10 out of 10.”

West Indies batting coach Floyd Reifer (Photo: AFP)

Reifer credited the local coaching staff for their contributions. “The coaches were very good,” he said. “Shri and his team were brilliant. The guys were very receptive in terms of how they received the information from guys that are accustomed to those types of conditions in the Asian continent. So I thought that it was really good.” With Bangladesh’s conditions not dissimilar to those in India, Reifer is hopeful that the work done in Chennai will translate into match-day performances. “Like I said, the ability to bat spin confidently, ensuring that intent in defence, intent in rotation is straight, intent in scoring,” he said when asked what he wants to see carried over. “I think that on this trip to Bangladesh, our guys are ready. It doesn’t matter what type of spin they throw at us. I think we are ready to handle it. So it’s just a matter now of transferring what we did in the camp and what we were doing months and months before into the actual reality in the game under pressure.” Ahead of the two-day warm-up fixture, Reifer outlined the team’s objectives, emphasising the importance of bowlers building up their workloads and batters spending extended time at the crease. “Generally for us, it’s important that our bowlers are getting good spells,” he said. “As I said, the seam is a bit sharp in terms of bowling loads, so it’ll be important for those seamers to get their loads in. In terms of our batters, again, the opportunity to bat for long periods. A lot of us have been coming from white-ball cricket, so we must make the transition back to red-ball cricket.” Reifer, a former West Indies batsman, stressed the mental discipline required for the longer format. “Red-ball cricket is about doing the right things for long periods of time, batting sessions, batting different phases in a game, understanding the different phases of the game, knowing where you’re in control and staying in control,” he said. “So the things like that we’re looking for as a team—batting, bowling, and fielding.”