WEST INDIES COACH PUTTING EMPHASIS ON BATTING

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – West Indies head coach Bennett King says that in preparation for the ICC Champions Trophy, his focus has been on the batting of the team which flopped in two games and buckled in others during the recent DLF Cup in Malaysia.



“At the camp we’ve obviously been concentrating a lot on our batting,” King said as the West Indies team remained in Malaysia for a one week preparatory camp before they travel to India for the ICC Champions Trophy.



“Because of the tournament here in Malaysia we need to spend more time on the part of the game that we were weakest and that’s the batting,” King told WindiesCricket.com prior to the final training session at the Kinrara Academy Oval on Friday.



“Today’s (Friday’s) session is about game simulation and putting the players under different match conditions,” King said.



The Windies, the reigning ICC Champions Trophy title holders are scheduled to travel to India on Saturday to commence their qualifying round against Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.



King was particularly pleased with the fitness level of the players.



“Our fitness is very good at the moment, the physical side of the boys is quite strong going into the tournament,” King said



This is highlighted by the fact that all the players either met or surpassed their individual goals for the beep test with fast bowler Jerome Taylor being particularly impressive.



While fast bowler Corey Collymore, who only played one game in the DLF Cup due to a muscle injury in his right thigh, is not yet back to full fitness King was pleased that he is making steady progress.



“Corey is improving everyday and we have no doubt that he will be firing on all cylinders,” King said.