Beaten Lara pledges to battle on

Tuesday, April 6, 2004

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (AFP): Brian Lara has insisted that he will not step down as West Indies captain despite presiding over the his country's first home series defeat to England since 1968.

Lara is under renewed pressure after England won the third Test on Saturday to take a 3-0 lead on their four-Test tour and end a 36-year wait for their first Test series victory in the Caribbean.

"I have got another Test match to focus upon so the time for assessing my position of captain is not now," Lara said after his team's eight wicket defeat inside just three days.

"Assessment time will come, but most of all, there are a lot of people in position to make that assessment.

"Most importantly, I am here to play for West Indies. It has always been my dream to play for West Indies in whatever capacity and I will be doing that for some time to come."

Lara quit the captaincy four years ago in similar circumstances, but he wants to see more competition from the batting to ease his workload and avoid the collapses that occurred on Saturday when his team were dismissed for just 94 in their second innings.

"We played four series before this and for me to score the most runs in each and every series is a little bit of a concern," Lara said.

"I still believe we have a good group of young batsmen. It's not that they are too inadequate in technique or anything like that. It's just a lot of pressure mentally and you have to be a big man to play Test cricket.

"We have a lot of young guys playing and they are going to learn. Hopefully, the psychological effect is not going to last too long.

"It could, if they get into the habit of losing a lot, and if they get into that cycle it could affect them for a long time.

"They have to understand though, that they are playing for the West Indies and are following in the footsteps of great players and we need to try and emulate them."

Lara also believes the lack of mental strength, when the team is under pressure, is the reason for the inexplicable batting collapses particularly in the second innings of Tests.

"By the time the second and third day arrives, a Test has already taken shape and a lot of pressure is created because of whichever team has the advantage," he said.

"If you are going into your second innings with a sizeable lead, that disadvantage will not be there. But, clearly, going into the second innings 'behind the eight ball' is going to put pressure on our batters."

Vivian Richards, the former West Indies captain and now chairman of the selection panel, acknowledged that the team is packed with players of immense ability.

"But they just have not turned up to the party," Richards said.

"It's plain and simple. We can go into a lot of discussions about technique and all that stuff, but I think it is a serious warning for us, particularly those of us connected with the system.

"There are many things I believe need to be addressed. We are looking for winners and with some of the attitudes that we have seen, I do not know where it has been created, but individuals with a wonderful amount of ability have been unable to have the package to perform at their very best."

Richards revealed there were some players that were behaving like "prima donnas" and they needed to get their acts together.

"You have some guys who think because they have played a few matches, they have a rightful place in the team," he said.

"There's no such thing. We are at a stage now where the players are not learning as quickly as they should in order for them to go forward. There are some individuals performing just to keep their heads above water.

"This is not acceptable and is a selfish attitude. If we are going to move forward, there are certain measures I believe that will have to be put in place."

The last Test between West Indies and England will be contested at the Antigua Recreation Ground, starting on Saturday.

  Back...

  Most popular articles: viewed, printed and e-mailed

  Printable version