High Win (17 March 1999)

17 March 1999

High Win

Tony Cozier in Kingston

Bob Marley's Redemption Song boomed out across Sabina Park from the Mound Stand yesterday morning as the West Indies took one small, but significant, step towards what has become their cricketing Holy Grail, the retrieval of the Frank Worrell Trophy.

The stunning victory in the second Test, unimaginable at Saturday's toss, was indeed satisfying amends for the innings loss on the same ground four years ago that surrendered the cherished symbol to Australia for the first time in 17 years.

It was also overdue compensation for the anguish to which West Indies cricket has been so cruelly subjected through the whitewash in South Africa and the humiliation of the all-out 51 in Port-of-Spain. At last, we could rejoice again.

No one should have been more elated, or relieved, than captain Brian Lara.

He had gone through hell in South Africa, a route much of his own making, and had returned home to an understandably angry public and a distrusting board.

His sense of responsibility and commitment were questioned, and his leadership so debated that had there been a definite alternative he would have been replaced as captain. As it was, the board put him on notice for two Tests.

After a famous triumph that his own devastating batting had inspired, Lara must have been sorely tempted to thumb his nose at all the Doubting Thomases and gloat over the achievement.

Instead, he spoke in measured terms to the media after the match.

He hailed the importance of the result without going overboard, placed his own innings in its proper perspective without a hint of boastfulness, repeatedly referred to the efforts of the team, rather than any individuals, and admitted to recent changes in his personality and much publicised lifestyle.

"Most importantly, we've gained the confidence that we need," he said.

"That's something that was lacking for the last five or six months in West Indies cricket. "

But Lara cautioned against reading too much into the sudden end to the long period of purgatory.

"I'd like to say it is the turning point for us, but now we've got the confidence we've got to put together a greater team effort with bat, ball and especially in the field to ensure we dominate the remainder of the series."

Lara more than any contemporary cricketer knows how fickle the fates can be and is taking nothing for granted.

"Australia are capable of bouncing back, they've got a great team and a team that is accustomed to winning," he warned. "They're going to come back even harder in the next Test match."

Lara's stirring batting on Sunday rendered the board's still to be announced confirmation of his retention as captain redundant. Yet he would not be drawn on the issue.

"There were criteria set out by the board," he noted, adding in tongue-in-cheek paranthesis. "I hope they were confidential.

"I've tried to improve my personality and my character, and see how best I can satisfy the West Indies Cricket Board and its people because they are very disappointed, not only in West Indies cricket but in the individuals involved," he said.

"We owe it to the public, most importantly, as ambassadors of the West Indies, to go out there and give of our best and represent them they way we should," he added.

If the board did not, after all, want him as captain, Lara indicated it was all right with him.

"I've always expressed that my love and commitment to West Indies cricket is unconditional, and I'm just happy to be among the runs, happy to be in a winning team and happy to play that role," he said.

"I'm looking forward to Barbados (the third Test, March 26-30) whatever the situation is."

Acknowledging that his 213 "can go down as the most important innings (of his career)", he remained reluctant to place it above his 277 at Sydney, also against Australia, for personal satisfaction.

Australia captain Steve Waugh had earlier made much the same assessment.

The British Press, here in full force in the expectation of writing his obituary as West Indies captain, typically overstated Lara's presence at a night club until 1:30 a.m two nights before the Test and his late arrival at practice next morning caused, as it turned out, by a visit to the doctor to check on his wrist injury.

"Everybody has their weaknesses, but the main thing is that I always learn," he said in response to a question on such reports.

"I don't just get demoralised. I use them as a positive experience and just move on."

Asked how he has changed since South Africa, Lara said he could not pinpoint any one area.

"It's a whole, all-round effort not only by me but by everyone," he said.

"You've got to realise that no one individual could be responsible for something as disastrous as South Africa. I've played a part, and I must hold some sort of responsibility. But I've improved as a person, even outside of cricket, living my life day-to-day, and that's most important."

"As you get older, you get wiser, I suppose."

After this outstanding triumph, he will be even wiser.

Source :: The Barbados Nation (https://www.nationnews.com/)