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'We're building towards the World Cup' - Bravo

West Indies captain Dwayne Bravo has already shifted focus to the 2015 World Cup after having the ODI series against Bangladesh in the bag with a match to spare

Mohammad Isam
Mohammad Isam
24-Aug-2014
Dwayne Bravo wants his side to keep improving despite having secured the series  •  AFP

Dwayne Bravo wants his side to keep improving despite having secured the series  •  AFP

West Indies captain Dwayne Bravo has already shifted focus to the 2015 World Cup after having the ODI series against Bangladesh in the bag with a match to spare. They have been ruthless at beating the visitors so far, crushing them by 177 runs in the previous game.
Before the World Cup next year, West Indies have two more five-match ODI series against India and South Africa but Bravo is urging his team to start looking forward with him from now.
"We just want to focus on one game at a time," Bravo said. "We won the series but we want to improve on our last performance and improve as a team. If we win the next game, it is a whitewash but that is not the only reason we are playing tomorrow.
"We are building towards the 2015 World Cup so we are trying to play as much cricket as a group and win as many games as possible. We want to be the best ODI team as we can be. We will keep encouraging the guys to achieve greatness."
The home side have added Andre Russell as the 14th member of the ODI squad, on the back of his impressive all-round performance in the CPL where he batted ten innings at a 200-plus strike-rate with two fifties. He also took 11 wickets at a 22.81 bowling average.
"It is a decision by the selectors to add Andre Russell in the squad," Bravo said. "We all know his all-round abilities and I personally feel he is one of the best allrounders in the region.
"I am always happy to have someone like Andre among the squad. It is good, gives us a lot of competition as well in the unit. His off-the-field attitude is good as well. Guys know they have to perform to stay in the team. Happy to see him around and the best XI will play tomorrow."
Bravo himself has had a lean time with the bat, scoring just 5 and 6 in the two matches. His bowling has been good, taking a four-wicket haul in the first game.
He said that the wicket at Warner Park, despite a reputation of being a batting paradise, could be weary after the CPL.
"Having played there in the CPL, I think the wicket might be a bit tired now," he said. "But at the same time, it is always a good cricket wicket here."

Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo's Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84