Lara sees King’s camp as beneficial

BRIAN LARA, yet to be reappointed as West Indies captain for the forthcoming VB Series in Australia, believes the squad will benefit from the intense physical preparation during the recent two-and-a-half week camp under new coach Bennett King. The Australian, in his first assignment as West Indies coach, drilled the squad with intense physical work during the camp and Lara thinks the players will profit from the experience.

“It is something that is going to benefit not only us who are going to Australia but also the guys who are going to stay here for the regional tournament,” Lara said. “I think you are going to see a difference in their play,” added Lara, who guided the West Indies to victory in the ICC Champions Trophy in England three months ago. The camp — at the 3Ws Oval at the University’s Cave Hill Campus in Barbados — that ended midweek, was preparation for the triangular VB One-day tournament between the West Indies, Pakistan and hosts Australia from January 14 to February 8.

“He (King) had an opportunity to get the 25 best West Indies players in a camp and he worked on us and worked us very hard,” Lara said. Lara, the world batting record holder in both Test (400) and first-class (501) cricket, also anticipates King expanding his work with the team to areas of technique and strategy. “I’m almost sure that he is going to show us his style of play, how he wants us to play; the technical part of the game; what he is going to do in the dressing room; what he is going to do on the blackboard. I’m waiting to see,” Lara said.