MUMBAI, India (CMC) — Cricket coach Andre Coley says he has noticed a marked improvement in the performance of the West Indies women since their training stint at the Sagicor High Performance Centre in Barbados.

Coley, who has been based at the centre since its inception in 2010, says he has seen improvements in skill, confidence and awareness levels after the one-month programme.

“Having the opportunity to train at the excellent indoor and outdoor facilities at the Sagicor HPC has helped the girls in a major way,” said Coley, a former Jamaica wicketkeeper and West Indies Under-19 coach, who has accompanied the 15-member squad to India for the ICC World Cup.

“They had the chance to fine-tune some technical areas when they were in Barbados for a month at the end of last year. In the time they were there we saw some tremendous improvements in all departments.”

Since the stint at the Sagicor HPC, West Indies tied the five-match ODI rubber against South Africa, and then easily beat the visitors 2-0 in the Twenty20 series at Beausejour Cricket Ground.

“We have seen the confidence levels improve among the girls. We have also seen an improvement in the skill levels, and the performances overall as a team have also moved up,” said Coley, presently working alongside Sherwin Campbell, the former West Indies vice-captain, who has been Women’s head coach for five years.

“Their awareness of how to play the game at this level, in home and foreign conditions, has also improved, and these are some of the key areas that have to be worked on if we are to become a stronger force in women’s cricket.”

West Indies women lost a warm-up match against Australia on Monday.

They have been drawn in Group A alongside defending champions England, hosts India, and Sri Lanka.

Group B will include Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, and South Africa.