Courage under fire (19 March 1999)

19 March 1999

Courage under fire

Lenin Gani

Congratulations to Brian Charles Lara and West Indies! Who would ima-gine th at within the space of a week after being routed for West Indies' lowest ever score in Test history, Lara managed to rally his troops to turn things around at the sunny Sabina Park.

The feat is reminiscent of what England did during their winter tour here.

Blown away for 46 in the first Test they recorded an emphatic 210-run victory in the next match in 1994.

The turnaround this time ended a dismal run of six consecutive defeats and at the same time put a stay of execution on Lara's captaincy. Before the Australians arrived West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) selectors told the Trinidadian in no uncertain terms that it was due to his lack of leadership ability which was responsible for the disastrous tour of South Africa. They were whitewashed 5-0 in the Tests and humbled 6-1in the one-dayers. As a result they said that his tenure would be reviewed after the first two matches.

Having most probably won the vote of confidence following his magnificent 213 and in the process became the eighth West Indian to achieve 5,000 runs. The first major contribution by the 29-year-old since June, 1997 against Sri Lanka at St Vincent, the world record holder of the highest score in an innings at Test and first-class level can at least keep his detractors at bay for now. The constant brushes with officials, critics and the media was badly affecting his form to such an extent that his average had slipped to below sixty per cent after assuming control from the likeable Courtney Walsh.

However scenario could have been a lot different with the home side reeling at 37 for four having dismissed the home side for 256. Strike bowlers Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie sliced through the top order and already the writing was on the wall. Yet Lara and partner Jimmy Adams seeing the enemy closing in rapidly, decided they were going to make a last stand.

While Lara was playing like a man possessed exhibiting an array of shots to every part of the ground, Jamaica's other favourite son Adams, who himself was experiencing a drought of runs, was gradually finding his feet. The Jamaican was denied a richly deserved century.

The West Indies skipper was severe on Warne and MacGill. The twin tweakers conceded 178 runs from 52 overs.

Such was Lara's dogged determination that when a McGrath bouncer struck him on the side of the head, he quickly composed himself after examining his helmet and reacted with a superb boundary.

By the end of Day Two the pair had put on a record 321-run unbroken stand for the fifth wicket. Around the Caribbean as elsewhere in the cricketing world there was a buzz in the air as to whether the 'Prince of Trinidad' would be able to better his 375.

Alas! McGrath who had toiled throughout Sunday without success, was rewarded when the batting maestro offered a straightforward catch to wicketkeeper Ian Healy adding just a single to his overnight score. The chance to bask in glory again was lost. And the rest was history.

Let's hope this is not a one-off situation rather the start of a revival in West Indian fortunes. Cricket needs a healthy West Indies.

Source :: The Bangladesh Daily Star (https://www.dailystarnews.com)