New captain says WI batting stronger

BRIDGETOWN: Brian Lara, appointed on Monday for his second stint of West Indies captaincy, is positively bracing for a tough battle against the powerful Australians in the Cable and Wireless cricket series.

Lara rates the Australians as number one in the world but expressed hope that his young troop can be competitive in the series of four Tests and seven One-Day Internationals. “We’re playing against the best team in the world, it’s going to be tough, we have a group of young players, and one of the things I want to do is to continue building character,” Lara told reporters on Monday afternoon at the Kensington Oval, a few hours after his appointment. The 33-year-old Lara, back as West Indies captain after giving up the job just over three years ago, magnificently led the West Indies to a 2-2 draw in the last series against the Australians in the Caribbean in 1999.

He lashed 546 runs at an average of 91 including a highest score of 213 among his three centuries in the series and believes the current squad is stronger — especially in batting — than the one that fended off defeat four years ago. “Personally I think we’ve got a better team than we had in 1999, maybe (except) for the absence of Courtney Walsh and Ambrose yes that’s major, but in the batting department, we’ve got a much stronger line up and I expect us to compete. “If things go our way, I can see us doing well against Australia,” Lara added. The Trinidadian double world batting record holder was first appointed West Indies captain in early 1998, but his reign was not very successful. After two years in the job, a dejected Lara resigned at the start of  2000 season following humiliating losses on tour of New Zealand where they were beaten 2-0 in the test series and 5-0 in the one-dayers.

Lara, whose world marks of 375 in Tests, and 501 not out in First-Class cricket, have stood since the mid 1990s, had six wins, 10 losses and two drawn results in his first stint as West Indies captain. Alluding to maturity and experience gained in his time of “introspection away from the job, Lara suggested he wants to rally his young players behind him and help their development. “We’ve got a team that’s very young and we’ve got a team that’s full of potential and I think we need to shape our characters, especially against the best team in the world, there is no better opposition to do that,” he said.

Responding to questions about the team’s ability to beat Australia, Lara was philosophical, suggesting that the best he can ask of his team is to give 100 percent and be competitive, even though winning is always the aim. “I want to see us compete, winning is important but most importantly for us as West Indian people and I know a lot of people have questioned our commitment and how competitive we have been over the years, I want to see a West Indies competing. “We need to ensure that we play each session, day after day, to the best of our ability and things are going to work out for us,” Lara said. The Australians arrive in the Caribbean today and the First Test starts on April 10 in Guyana.