Becca on Lara: Hardly a surprise, it was on the cards (8 Jan 1998)

January 8, 1998

Hardly a surprise, it was on the cards

Tony Becca

Brian Lara's elevation to the captaincy of the West Indies was hardly a surprise.

It was bound to happen. In fact, it has been on the cards since the days when he led the Trinidad and Tobago youth team with a maturity which belied his tender age.

The only question was when, for while there were those who believed that he was ready a few years ago, there were also those who did not believe so - not because he lacked the skills to be a brilliant tactician, but based on his many indiscretions, on his many statements that he was ready to take over, and only last October, on his outburst that he should have been given the job to lead the team to Pakistan, because they believed he was too immature and too selfish to lead.

According to those fans who wanted Lara to wait until he had achieved a level of maturity, and those officials who insisted that he wait, there is more to leadership than tactics and strategies. According to their gospel, he who is not prepared to be led cannot lead, and as far as they were concerned, nothing in Lara's behaviour, especially since the summer of 1995 when he walked out on the West Indies team in England, suggested he was not prepared to be led - not even in the interest of West Indies cricket.

In contrast to that, those who believed he was ready based their sentiments on the fact that as a captain on the field he was blessed with something special, and if given the job he would, as far as the other side of leadership is concerned, live up to the responsibility. After yesterday's announcement in Antigua, the question is no longer when. Brian Lara is the new West Indian captain and the question now is what can be expected from him.

There is no doubt, as he has demonstrated time and time again, that Lara is blessed with a special gift - a gift which allows him to read the game better than most and of plotting the downfall of batsmen; there is no doubt he possesses the personality and presence of a leader - the kind of leader which will not only get the best out of himself, but also the best out of his players; and it is possible he is the kind of leader which West Indies cricket needs at this time.

The fear is that Lara, because of his tantrums, may one day embarrass West Indies cricket and, based on his history, that is possible. It is also possible however, that Lara suffers from the God syndrome, that he could not wait to be put on the throne, but now he is there, now he is el numero uno, he will be a different man.

Only time will tell, but the feeling, especially if he is properly monitored, is Lara will bring a new dimension to West Indies cricket - if for no other reason than that on the field he is a brilliant captain, off the field he is tough almost to the point of uncompromising, and he will get himself fit enough to lead from the front with his bat and in the slips.

In welcoming Lara as the new captain, West Indies cricket should say thanks to outgoing captain Courtney Walsh. Unlike Lara, Walsh did not appear destined to be captain and he certainly was not groomed to be one. On top of that, he took over the reigns at a difficult time in West Indies cricket - a time when the board was under fire, when his predecessor was under fire and when there was no longer a line of great players around.

In his own way however, in his own style, and despite the problems, including those caused by Lara's haste to take over, Walsh led with dignity, and for that West Indies cricket will always be grateful to him.

There were days when others appeared to be simply going through the motions, that Walsh kept the flag flying and hopefully he will be there to lead the attack against England - hopefully the Gods will smile on him as he hunts the record as the most successful West Indies bowler of all time.

Lara's elevation to the captaincy of the West Indies team was only a matter of time. Now that it has happened, the fans, in the interest of West Indies cricket, should wish him well and the players, all of them, should pledge their support for the man whose responsibility it is now to lead them and to represent the West Indies in all aspects of the game - on and off the field.

Source :: The Jamaica Gleaner (https://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/)