DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, CMC – Bowling consultant Sir Curtly Ambrose says the preparation camp here over the last two weeks have allowed West Indies to fine-tune their game, as they take aim at the Twenty20 World Cup starting next week.
The Caribbean has been training here and have also played three unofficial warm-up T20 games to gain match practice ahead of the March 8 to April 3 ICC event in India.
Sir Curtly said he had seen improvement in the two opening games against Zimbabwe last week, and in yesterday’s contest against English County Warwickshire which West Indies won by 11 runs at the Dubai International Stadium.
“I think the bowling is really coming together. We have had a couple of good games so far and there’s room for improvement obviously but I am quite satisfied at the moment the way the guys are bowling,” Sir Curtly said following the game.
As a bowling unit we are working with a plan and so far the plan has gone well and I’m just hoping by the time we get to India, everything will just come together where we can do well in this tournament.”
He said the Windies batting had also performed well on tour and pointed to the depth as the key to its success.
Pointing to the opening game against Zimbabwe and Friday’s game against Warwickshire, the former West Indies paceman said the Caribbean side showed it possessed quality batting all the way through the order.
“The good thing about this team is that we have depth in our batting. We are a team that doesn’t rely on one or two players. We have depth and that is going to be key,” he stressed.
“When we lose early wickets, guys in the middle and lower order can still come in and get us to a good total so that to me is the strength in our batting so at the moment I am quite comfortable with both bat and ball. “The fielding has been good but we still can improve so generally I am quite satisfied.”
Sir Curtly said apart from the on-field performances, the squad were also gelling as a unit, and enjoying their cricket.
“We are working hard during practice, we have been doing well so far in the warm-up games and the camaraderie and spirit is very, very good,” he noted.
“We enjoy what we’re doing which is so important. Our skills are never in question but as long as we are enjoying what we are doing, that’s going to be the difference and so far we’re enjoying it.”
