MUMBAI, India (CMC) – Team manager Richie Richardson said here Wednesday that West Indies were well prepared for their upcoming One-Day International series against India, and would use the tour to enhance their planning for next year’s World Cup.

West Indies face India in the first of five ODIs next Wednesday at the Nehru Stadium in Kochi and Richardson said that unlike the previous tour of India, the Caribbean side would enter the series with excellent preparation behind them.

“We’ve just come off a successful series against Bangladesh and all of our players have been involved in cricket. Some are still playing as we speak so we feel that we are in much better shape, much better prepared to take on the Indians.

On the hastily arranged tour of India last November, West Indies were beaten 2-1 in the one-dayers and subsequently lost both Tests inside three days by innings margins. The defeat left West Indies without a one-day series win in a decade.