BERMUDA and Canada were hardly Australia or South Africa. But the West Indies were happy with the opposition last week at the Maple Leaf Cricket Club where they won the Scotiabank ODI Tri-Series.

In fact it was a confidence booster according to their management after the Windies won their three matches outside of Toronto against Bermuda and Canada (twice). The West Indies looked at the matches as part of their build-up to taking on fellow Test sides following the recent home defeats by top-ranked Australia in both long and short versions of the game.

Windies coach John Dyson said: "Sure, that's exactly right. That's what it is. It gives them a chance to work on something in their game against a lesser opposition."

Dyson said it did not matter that Canada and Bermuda are minnows in world cricket, neither nation having Test match status. The key, he explained, is that the West Indies got needed match practice, especially since there is no first-class cricket currently being played in the Caribbean.

"It's in the middle," said Dyson. "It's in a match circumstance, a match situation, which is, again, more valuable than nets. Even though it's against lesser opposition, it's still a full international game of cricket."