Lara remains optimistic despite drubbing

Brian Lara believes his team still has it in them to go all the way and win the Champions Trophy, even after they suffered a crushing defeat against Sri Lanka at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. "We have to be positive and pick ourselves for the next stage where all teams start afresh," he said at a post-match press conference. " I still think we can do it though we batted poorly today. We have had collapses twice in the tournament in Malaysia, against India and Australia, and need to assess our batting collapses."

Lara pointed to the last edition of the same tournament, where West Indies came out on top despite being an unfancied side. "Last time no one gave us any chance but we won the title. I feel we have the guys and the ingredients to do so again despite what happened today," he said, and pointed to the lone positive his team could take from the game. "We have to take the positives into the next round, the sole one being Wavell Hinds's batting."

Although his team were bowled out for the lowest total at the Brabourne Stadium, Lara did not blame the pitch for the defeat. "It was not the best wicket, but neither was it so bad that we should have been all out for less than 100. We did not bat well. I don't want to single out any one batsman," he said. "We lost a wicket in the first over and then kept losing them regularly which put us under pressure. They all bowled well and most of the batsmen were out bowled or leg before. It was a good effort [by Sri Lanka's bowlers]."

Lara refused to be totally disheartened with the loss, and said, "we have the opportunity [to learn]. If we apply ourselves professionally things will be better." If you're a West Indian fan, you'd certainly be hoping that things didn't get any worse.