Chance for Lara to silence critics

LONDON: West Indies have an opportunity to sock it to their legions of detractors and not least of all cock-a-hoop hosts England whom they face today in the Final of the ICC Champions Trophy limited-overs cricket series. Pilloried for their spineless, gutless performances in recent months against England, in particular, with whom they have become quite familiar and have a score to settle, West Indies have risen above the odds to reach the Final.

Two convincing wins against two of the game’s top teams —  South Africa in their final group match and Pakistan in the semifinal —  have returned smiles to the faces and confidence to the steps not only of the players, but to every single West Indies fan. “We are wounded,” West Indies captain Brian Lara told reporters on the eve of the match. ‘We are a team that would love to win some sort of silverware and it’s a great opportunity for us and I think the guys are very hungry to come out on Saturday and prove that,” he said. “We have got a lot of flambuoyant, attacking players and the limited-overs game is going to suit them more. But I’ve got great belief that, in time, you are going to see us perform a lot better in the five-day game.”

Although he tried to side step the issue, it is also a big opportunity for Lara to silence all the critics that have lamented his lack of leadership ability. “I have been given a job to do and I am doing it to the best of my ability,” he said. “It is not an opportunity to prove anybody wrong, it is an opportunity for the team. This team has been under a lot of strain and criticism, and the youngsters have really stood up to it and shown a lot of character,” he said. Neither team has played in a final when all the major nations have been involved for quite some time. West Indies reached the final of the inaugural ICC Champions Trophy six years ago in the days before it was as widely recognised as a mini-World Cup, and for England it has been longer, not since they lost out to Imran Khan’s Pakistan at Melbourne in the ICC World Cup 1992.

The two sides know each other very, very well having played back-to-back Tests and limited-overs international series in the Caribbean and in England already this year. In eight Tests between the two sides since January, Michael Vaughan’s side has the clear advantage of 7-0. But in 11 limited-overs internationals in the same period, West Indies have won four, England three and eight have been no-results. It spells that neither side can afford to be complacent. For all intents and purposes, both sides, least of all West Indies, have punched above their weight in this competition. The two teams started the month ranked at eighth and seventh respectively, on the sport’s governing body’s limited-overs international team rankings. But West Indies are all too well aware that it only takes one reckless or careless moment for all the hard work to come tumbling down around them. They have experienced it countless times recently, particularly in the preceding Test series in which England swept them 4-0, and this will be enough motivation.

England too, have been jarred by the memory of not being a part of the NatWest Series final earlier in the summer, when West Indies won the penultimate preliminary match to knock them out in front of a capacity crowd at Lord’s. This still haunts them and, losing out on this prize, will be a much bigger deal. “We are certainly not being complacent about West Indies,” Vaughan said. “We have had a good run against them in Tests, but in the limited-overs context we’ve been very equal. It was 2-2 in the Caribbean and they beat us 2-1 this summer,” he said. “They’re exciting, dangerous and there is plenty of depth in their side.” Neither team is the same that it was then. Both have been reinforced in a few areas that make them a little more formidable.

West Indies batting has taken on a more solid look with Wavell Hinds opening the batting with Chris Gayle and with the additions of Ryan Hinds and Courtney Browne to give it some depth, and the return of Corey Collymore and Mervyn Dillon has added experience to the bowling. For England, Vikram Solanki has proved to be a good foil for Marcus Trescothick at the top of the batting and has allowed Vaughan to drop down the order and ease the pressure that has been placed on him. West Indies seem set to retain the same side that beat Pakistan in last Wednesday’s semi-final, although consideration may be given to bringing in Dillon, provided he has fully recovered from a shoulder injury. England also look set to field the same 11 that defeated the undisputed world champions Australia by six wickets in Tuesday’s semi-final.

Squads:
ENGLAND: Michael Vaughan (captain), Marcus Trescothick (vice captain), James Anderson, Gareth Batty, Paul Collingwood, Andrew Flintoff, Ashley Giles, Darren Gough, Steve Harmison, Geraint Jones, Anthony McGrath, Vikram Solanki, Andrew Strauss, Alex Wharf.
WEST INDIES (from): Brian Lara (captain), Ramnaresh Sarwan (vice captain), Ian Bradshaw, Dwayne Bravo, Courtney Browne, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Corey Collymore, Mervyn Dillon, Chris Gayle, Ryan Hinds, Wavell Hinds, Sylvester Joseph, Ricardo Powell, Darren Sammy.
UMPIRES: Rudi Koertzen, Simon Taufel, TV Replays: Darrell Hair.
MATCH REFEREE: Ranjan Madugalle.