Victory at right time says Lara

After a dismal summer and in an atmosphere of great pressure the now historic performance of the West Indies cricket team at the recent ICC Champions Trophy in England was a reaction and a great team effort according to West Indies captain Brian Lara. He was speaking on Monday in the VIP Lounge of the Piarco International Airport. Earlier Lara together with Ricardo Powell, Mervyn Dillon, Dwayne Bravo, former head coach Augustine Logie and physiotherapist Ronald had arrived from London, via Barbados. Lara said the victory came at the right time. Noting that the team always felt strong about their chances in the competition, the double world record holder added that the triumph came after a time of struggle. He was referring to the destruction caused in the Caribbean by Hurricanes Ivan and Jeanne. He said concern for the suffering in the region gave the players more impetus to succeed.

The West Indies captain commended the efforts of Barbadian pair Courtney Browne and Ian Bradshaw whose tenth wicket partnership against all odds at the Brit Oval on Saturday secured the trophy. He also paid tribute to the other players and the team administration. Lara’s words put into perspective the jubilant cries that accompanied his team’s victory from the  mouths of supporters, fair weather and die hard and even those of the children of the St Mary’s Children’s Home in Arouca. The cricketers were met at the airport by a host of officials, the wives of Dillon and Powell and their children. Omar Khan, manager of the Trinidad and Tobago team said the Champions Trophy victory brought great joy to the region and pointed out that all Trinbagonians celebrated just as ecstatically as the players did on the Oval field in London after the match. Of the on field romp that followed the win Lara said: “We don’t know how to celebrate.” He was obviously pointing to the fact that it has been such a long while since a Caribbean victory and that spontaneity became the order of the day.

Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Roger Boynes brought his characteristic fervour and referred to Lara as one of this country’s great ambassadors and thanked the team for its contribution to the then dwindling well of Caribbean pride. Boynes stated that his government had seen a need to harness the potential on show in England during the competition and was going to co-ordinate with the West Indies Cricket Board to see the establishment of the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, a vision that Lara has had for a while. With the Brian Lara Recreation Ground scheduled for completion in four to six months and the Cabinet’s approval of $85 million toward the Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago, Boynes said that sport in general and cricket in particular “will not want for anything” including a semi-professional or professional cricket league Boynes also highlighted the need for less criticism and more support of the team as it continues to use the Champions Trophy win, first for the region since 1979, as a foundation for its preparation ahead of the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup to be hosted by the region.

On behalf of the Government of  Trinidad and Tobago Boynes presented Lara with a plaque in appreciation of the achievement, a small token of their regard for the regional side. Speaking after the evening’s formal portion, Lara said that Bravo, who is also a resident of his native Santa Cruz, has been a livewire in the team and his enthusiasm was one of the valuable assets that has driven the team, he beckoned the other young players to follow the example of his exuberant countryman. Lara said the team has come full circle to show that it is capable of delivering, now, while they rest up before the next outing, it was time for the administration to do its part to harness this potential. Earlier in the day while speaking in Barbados, Lara made it clear that any decision to leave the sport would be well thought out and remarked that he would like to leave a legacy. And at Piarco ended with a poetic flourish summing up his young team’s rise to glory and proclaiming:  “You are all men my boys.”