BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC) — West Indies Assistant Coach Floyd Reifer has hailed his team’s significant improvement in the One-Day International (ODI) format following their crucial series victory over Bangladesh.

The win marks a milestone in the regional side’s quest for resurgence on the global stage, as it was the home side’s first ODI series win against Bangladesh in 10 years.

The Shai Hope-led West Indies will look to wrap up the third and final ODI on Thursday and seal a series sweep against Bangladesh.

Reifer highlighted the strides made across multiple facets of the game.

“This series was important for us, as before the series started, we set our goals in terms of where we want to be at the end. We sit at number 10 in the ODI rankings, but when we started in 2023, we were 15 to 17 points behind everybody. By the end of this series, we’ve cut that lead to just two points behind number nine,” said Reifer.

Reifer lauded the team’s batting performance, particularly in the middle overs, an area that had long been a weak point for the West Indies.

“When we first started, our middle-over batting was a challenge. Over the past year, we’ve worked hard to address this, and to see it come to fruition is very rewarding.”

The team’s approach has transformed dramatically, with the West Indies now ranking second globally in middle-over batting.

“It’s all about mindset. The captain has been leading the charge with a positive mindset on how we approach those overs. A lot of work went into improving strike rotation, boundary options, and ensuring we put bowlers under pressure consistently,” Reifer added.

Preparation has been another cornerstone of the team’s improvement, with the Barbadian crediting a renewed focus on work ethic and skill development as drivers of success.

“Preparation is key. The guys are preparing better, and we’ve built a culture of intense, purposeful work. Conversations in the dressing room, between players and coaches, have also helped elevate our game.”

The results are evident in the statistics as the West Indies batsmen have notched five centuries in their last eight ODIs, a testament to their enhanced focus and execution.

The bowling unit has also shown progress, with Reifer praising the team’s ability to execute their plans under the guidance of bowling coach James Franklyn and team analyst Avinash Persaud.

“It’s about being as consistent as possible and grouping deliveries in the right areas. We also utilise the short delivery strategically, and the guys have been disciplined in following the plans.”