Ex-Kiwi ‘keeper backs Lara to come good

Adam Parore, the former national vice-captain, believes there is still a very big score in Lara, even though he has failed miserably in the series so far.
The 36-year-old Lara has produced scores of five, zero, one, and one in four innings in the first two Tests at Auckland and Wellington.

“He is underdone, as simple as that,” Parore wrote in a column in the New Zealand Herald newspaper. Halfway through the Third Test, he’ll be getting into stride. You have to play some cricket, no matter who you are.

“I don’t have that many memories of playing against him, but he has made runs in New Zealand before — it’s not as if he has a problem in our conditions.”
Parore added that Lara may fail like other players, but he doesn’t score many 30s or 40s, or even 70s.

“Once he gets a start, you are in major trouble,” Parore said. “You certainly don’t chip Lara as he leaves after making a low score. Leave him to his own devices, because you know he’s going to get you, big time, in the end. If he puts you to the sword, he will really do some damage.

“He’ll make a hundred in this series, I am sure, and if he hasn’t by the last innings of the last Test, the New Zealand boys will be walking on eggshells.”
Parore also lambasted the West Indies for laughing at players who had been injured by bouncers.

He was making reference to Scott Styris’ revelation that some members of the West Indies team laughed at him, when he was felled by a rip-snorter from visiting tyro Fidel Edwards.
“Though it’s really no surprise at all because it’s obvious these tourists lack leadership,” he said.

“There have been no denials from the West Indians so we can only presume Styris was on the mark, that he has not misinterpreted their actions.”
He added, “Even guys like Brett Lee, who play the game pretty tough, never laughed or thought it was funny when a player was hit. He would come over to you, see if you were all right then give you another one — next ball.”