Lara admits it’s tough against world champs

West Indies captain Brian Lara sees difficult times ahead against the mighty Australian cricketers as the Second Cable and Wireless Test match enters its second day at the Queen’s Park Oval when the visitors decimated the homesters in less than three days in 1999.

At the close of play yesterday, the Aussies took a commanding step in retaining the coveted Sir Frank Worrell Trophy which they won in the Caribbean under the astute leadership of Steve Waugh who must have been a relieved man when they reached 391 for the loss of three wickets off 90 overs. Magnificent centuries by vice-captain Ricky Ponting (146 not out) and 33-year-old Daren Lehmann (160) set up the Australians for a mammoth total unless the West Indies bowlers improve dramatically on the slow track today. Six of the seven West Indians bowlers used by Lara were hammered to the boundary ropes and over as the confident Aussies compiled a total of 50 fours and three sixes in the carnage witnessed on the opening day.

Mervyn Dillon and Pedro Collins conceded eleven fours each, Vasbert Drakes 10, Marlon Samuels eight fours and two sixes, debutant Dave Bernard seven fours and six and Wavell Hinds two fours as Lehmann recorded his maiden Test century with 21 fours and one huge six while the undefeated Ponting stroked 19 fours and six in three clinical display. Lara accepted responsibility for playing three specialist bowlers and debutant allrounder Bernard and felt that they gave their best but were not able to get the job done. “It’s always a tall order and it will be tough when you play three specialist bowlers. Things didn’t work out today. We didn’t make inroads in time,” Lara said yesterday. “Dillon bowled well in his first spell and someone had to bowl a long spell.Today Collins had to do the donkey work today and then come back to bowl tight. But it didn’t happen.”

Despite the carnage inflicted by the Aussies, Lara looked ahead with optimism and declared that “our young team will do pretty well on this track.” Lehmann said getting his first century was a special moment. “It was long in coming but I will cherish it. I felt proud and relieved. I was happy to get the monkey off the back. The first (Test) century is always the hardest but I will take from there,” he said. Ponting hopes that Australia will pile on the pressure today.