English media mob Lara - leads Warwicks in opener today (17 Apr 1998)

Friday, April 17, 1998

English media mob Lara - WI captain leads Warwicks in County opener today

By IRVING WARD Sports Desk

WEST Indies and Trinidad and Tobago and skipper Brian Lara was once again the darling of the English media yesterday.

The talented left-handed batsman touched down on the continent later than originally expected but was hardly given a moment to breath as hundreds of journalists swarmed on the Edgbaston ground of his Warwickshire club to get at him.

Today though, the 28-year-old skipper will be on familiar ground when he restarts his English career by leading the Warwicks into battle against Durham at the same venue as the County Champion-ship bowls off across the country.

A bumper crowd is expected to be on hand to welcome the one-time Prince-now elevated to the King of West Indies cricket-back to a happy hunting ground for him, one on which he scored one of his world records and against the same opponents.

Also expected to be on hand for the first ball today is Lara's compatriot Dwight Yorke.

Yorke, who has made a name for himself at the other giant organisation in the Birmingham- Premiership club Aston Villa-will be all to willing to share the fans' adoration with Lara.

Speaking to the British media yesterday Lara, who returned after a four-year hiatus, explained though that he had compatriot Phil Simmons to thank for his presence.

The Express understands that after succumbing to a bout of food poisoning, he had initially missed his flight to England on Wednesday and had called Warwickshire's chief executive Dennis Amiss saying he would not get into England until Friday morning, a mere three hours before the start of the game.

But this would have meant his missing a photo-call for the team and sponsors, the news conference and a sell-out gala dinner for 360 guests at which he was due to be the star attraction-all carded for yesterday. And after Amiss informed him of the importance events, Lara persuaded Simmons to give up his seat on another flight which allowed him (Lara) to leave yesterday and make the date.

"It's only because of Phil that I was able to come over now. He's going to try and get on the next available flight. I'm very grateful to him because it was important for me to be here today to meet the players, the sponsors and get settled in before the first game."

Simmons plays for Leicestershire, who do not have a match this weekend.

Adding that his first experience of county cricket in 1994 and the demands of playing five or six days a week over the summer, had come as a shock, Lara explained that experience would help him this year.

"You can put aside what happened in 1994 and look forward to a much different Brian Lara this year," he exclaimed.

In his record-breaking first season at Edgbaston, Lara was instrumental in leading Warwicks to a unique treble which included the County Champion-ship, Sunday League and Benson and Hedges Cup.

He scored 2,066 championship runs then including six centuries in his first seven innings and culminating in his world record 501 not out against Durham.

And the former Fatima College student immediately warned Durham of pending danger.

"I would like to produce something special against them again in my first game back as captain," he declared.

"But when I scored my 501 we only ended up with the bonus points. This time the priority will be for the team to win and get full points."

Lara added though that he could only promise Warwickshire that he would try his best this season.

"I realise people will expect another bumper season like 1994, and hopefully I can make a considerable contribution with the bat and as captain," he explained.

"I believe we have a team that is capable of doing well in each and every competition, so it's not unrealistic to expect us to finish among the honours. It would be asking a lot to repeat the triumphs of 1994 but I'll be disappointed at the end of the day if I haven't helped Warwickshire win some trophies."

Lara said his batting form had been up and down but he felt it was back to where he wanted it to be in the wake of the recent Cable and Wireless series against England-where he led the West Indies to victories in both the Test (3-1) and One-day (4-1) International series.

Source :: The Trinidad Express (https://www.trinidad.net/express/)