Lara vows to end dismal WI record

ST JOHN’S: West Indies captain Brian Lara said yesterday he is determined to end the squad’s dismal record in overseas tours, especially against major cricket nations. Lara and the rest of a 16-man squad are engaged in a five-day camp in Antigua this week before they leave Saturday for tours in Zimbabwe and South Africa. “We have to go down there and make sure we take command of  (Zimbabwe) and then head to South Africa which is going to be a very tough tour,” Lara said. “The guys understand ... that we have been at the bottom for some time.” The latest tours come after Australia beat the West Indies in the Test and One-Day International home series. They rebounded to beat Sri Lanka 1 - 0 in a two-match test series. The other match was rained out.

Lara said it is important that his side build on their encouraging performances as they seek to avenge the humiliating 5 - 0 drubbing they suffered against the South Africans five years  ago. Lara said it will take a good all round team effort to defeat any side. “One of the problems in the recent past was that we weren’t able to get 20 wickets in a Test match and it is something we will have to address,” he said. “It is all well and good to (score) 500-600 runs but if you can’t get the opposition out you are not going to win any Test match.” Officials have chosen six fast bowlers, including two — Jerome Taylor and Fidel Edwards — who have played three Test matches between themselves, and one rookie, Ravi Rampaul, for the  African tour. But Lara said this not a guarantee that the West Indies will return to the formula of fielding four pacers as they did in their heyday of the late 1970s to the early 1990s. “I’m not going to say that we are leaning toward four fast bowlers in a Test match but definitely we are going to give the guys who we think are possible West Indian stars that opportunity,” he said. “West Indies have been known for four fast bowlers and we are going to exploit that,” he said. “We have three fast bowlers who are 19, and one 21. I think the opportunity is there for them to evolve into something great.” The West Indies will tour Zimbabwe from October 27-November 30 and play two Tests and five One-Day internationals. They travel to South Africa from December 1-February 5 for two Tests and five One-Day Internationals.